Less than three weeks before debut day, the Phillies are crossing their fingers that arguably their most valuable utility player will not require an opening season trip to the injured list.
Brad Miller, who was scheduled to play on third base on Saturday against the Detroit Tigers, was eliminated from the line-up about 10 minutes before the first shot when he felt a “tug” on his right ribcage as he ran before the game.
Coach Joe Girardi did not have much information on Miller’s condition moments after the game.
“There is no timetable,” said Girardi. “We have to wait and see. He will be evaluated.”
Miller is likely to have an MRI scan. This is generally how medical teams assess the severity of an oblique injury. Since the torso is very twisted and rotated in baseball, even minor oblique injuries require some downtime.
Losing some time at this point in the camp would affect Miller’s preparation for the opening day and could make him an IL candidate. More will be known after he passes tests.
Miller, 31, spent 66 games with the Phillies in 2019 and hit 12 home runs in 118 attempts. He played with St. Louis last season and returned to the Phillies on a $ 3.5 million one-year contract this winter. It brings important left-handed pop and versatility to the bank. It can fill anywhere in the inner field and in the outer corner areas. He should get time on the left when Girardi wants to rest Andrew McCutchen, who is less than two years from knee surgery.
Losing Miller “would be significant,” said Girardi. “He’s dangerous with a bat in his hands. Our hope is that he won’t be long.”
With Miller’s health now in doubt, the Phillies could try to get some more reps for Scott Kingery in the infield on the remaining days of the camp. He has been concentrating mainly on playing on the outside field. Kingery has versatility similar to Miller.
The Phillies have two other internal players on the 40-player roster, Nick Maton and CJ Chatham. Veteran Ronald Torreyes is also in the camp, but he is not in the 40-player roster and the Phils may face a casting crisis in the final days of the camp.
One of the players Phils will likely have to make room on the 40-player roster is left-handed hitter Matt Joyce, who could become even more important as a bat off the bench if Miller is out.
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