That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies alumni well represented in the MLB Postseason

By George Stockburger

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: J.A. Happ #34 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning of their game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 20: J.A. Happ #34 of the New York Yankees pitches in the first inning of their game against the Toronto Blue Jays at Yankee Stadium on September 20, 2019 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Emilee Chinn/Getty Images) /
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While the Phillies didn’t make the postseason, they’re well represented among the playoff teams.

Phillies fans haven’t had an opportunity to watch their team in the playoffs in recent years, so they’ve been resorting to watching some fan favorites take the field for other clubs.

This year there aren’t a ton of fan favorites on the field, but several former Phillies are playing critical roles for their current teams in the postseason.

Perhaps the most notable name is J.A. Happ, who nearly won a Rookie of the Year award in Philadelphia before going to Houston in the Roy Oswalt trade.

Happ, who turns 37 this month, won 12 games for the Yankees after signing a lucrative two-year deal last offseason. A third round pick by the Phillies in 2004, Happ won 14 games in 47 appearances for Philadelphia with a 3.11 ERA.

Two guys that came off the bench for Philadelphia during the rebuilding years are also getting their shot at a World Series ring. Asdrubal Cabrera and Howie Kendrick both made the Nationals wild card game roster and went a combined 1-6 in a 4-3 win over the Brewers.

Cabrera was one of several acquisitions the Phillies made at the deadline last year that didn’t pan out. He hit just .228 in 49 games after Philadelphia sent pitching prospect Franklyn Kilome to the Mets.

Kendrick had a much better, albeit short, run with the Phillies in 2017 as their opening day left fielder. He hit .340 in 39 games, missing significant time due to injury before being traded to Washington for pitching prospect McKenzie Mills and international bonus slot money.

Cabrera and Kendrick’s teammate Jeremy Hellickson missed most of the 2019 season with a shoulder injury, and he hasn’t pitched since May 19. Don’t expect the former Phillies opening day starter to play a big role for Washington during the playoffs.

While they didn’t play for the Phillies, several of the organization’s former top prospects are making postseason appearances. Trevor May was traded along with Vance Worley for Twins outfielder Ben Revere in 2012. May dealt with injuries early in his career, but this year he has a 2.94 ERA in 65 relief appearances for the Twins.

Travis d’Arnaud, the 37th overall pick in 2007, was traded by Philadelphia in the Roy Halladay deal and is now with the Toronto Blue Jays. d’Arnaud went 0-4 to start the playoffs against Oakland in the wild card series.

Ender Inciarte was a Rule 5 pick for the Phillies in 2012 out of the Diamondbacks organization, but Philadelphia opted to return Inciarte to Arizona prior to the 2013 season. The center fielder has had a decent career between Atlanta and Arizona, collecting two .300 seasons and stealing 113 bags.

So there are a lot of players with Phillies connections we’ll keep an eye on as the postseason rolls on, and hopefully this time next year we’re enjoying actual Phillies players in the playoffs and not washed up alums.

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