Phillies Infielder Josh Harrison Ready to Embrace Utility Role

Phillies recent minor-league signee Josh Harrison is already prepared to compete this spring training to earn a spot on the 2020 roster.

In recent years, it. has been the Philadelphia Phillies’ M.O. to find players who are able and willing to play multiple defensive positions.

Scott Kingery is the prime example, as even though he is just two seasons into his major league career, he has already logged playing time at shortstop, second base, third base, and all three outfield positions.

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As the club potentially parts ways with two infielders, Maikel Franco and Cesar Hernandez, ahead of Monday’s 8 p.m. non-tender deadline, that could open the doors for Kingery and others to have a more significant role on the 2020 roster.

Among those players includes the recent minor-league signing of infielder Josh Harrison, who was extended an invitation to major-league spring training.

The Phillies already know the nine-year veteran is capable of producing on offense; his best season came in 2016 with the Pittsburgh Pirates in which he slashed .283/.311/.388 with 25 doubles, seven triples, four home runs, 59 RBI and 19 stolen bases spanning 131 games and 522 plate appearances.

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What the Phillies could potential rely on Harrison for is his flexibility to play at different positions, such as the role Kingery has played in recent years. Kingery could assume regular playing time at second base, for example, creating the need for a new utility player.

Harrison is confident he is the Phillies’ right guy to play multiple positions.

“I’m prepared for it. It’s in my back pocket. I’ve always done it, since college,” Harrison recently said on MLB Network Radio. “Even the past couple of years, where I’ve been strictly second base, I’ve even expressed to the team and organization I was with, ‘If you need somebody to go play a game here or there, I’m your guy.'”

Harrison played strictly second base for the Detroit Tigers this past season, committing no errors spanning 305 2/3 innings and156 chances. As recently as the 2018 season with the Pirates, he has also played third base, and, in 2017, left and right field.

Harrison has ranked among the National League’s best in defensive fielding categories. In 2016, the posted the best range  factor per game among second basemen (4.91), and the second-best per nine innings (5.24). He also had the fourth-best fielding percentage among those at his position that year (.989), while recording the second-most putouts (262), second-most double plays turned (97), and fourth-most assists (366).

“I’ve always taken pride in my defense. It was one of the things that got overlooked when I was younger, because everybody saw me as a guy that just hit.” Harrison said. “They used to put a wrap on guys that play utility, that they could only play one position. But, I think over the years, I was able to break that barrier to show that you can play more than one position just as well as the other. It’s just a matter of getting that opportunity.”

Harrison said that his preparation coming into the 2020 season as a Phillies minor-league invitee, likely competing for a utility role, will be the same.

“I’ve always still taken ground balls at other spots, even though I’ve just been playing second base the past couple years,” Harrison said. “I’ll be ready for whatever comes my way. I still got all my gloves … my outfield gloves and my gloves to move around the infield.”

“So, I’m ready for whatever.”