Phillies: Three players who need to rebound in 2020

Jean Segura has to find himself in this new role with the Phillies

By the end of the season Jean Segura was one of the most polarizing players on the Phillies. Many fans didn’t want the veteran shortstop to return after he committed a career-high 20 errors. Perhaps fans didn’t realize he’s made at least 10 errors for eight straight years for five teams.

What the Phillies hoped to get from Segura was a guy who could hit around .290 with 200 hits and 50 extra-base hits. He fell short on the batting average and hit total, but did pick up 37 doubles, four triples and 12 home runs. The .280 batting average was still relatively respectable, but coming off three seasons hitting at least .300, the Phillies wanted more after trading J.P. Crawford to Seattle.

After the trade with Seattle was made a lot of people wondered why Segura had bounced between so many teams in so little time. Behind the scenes, it sounds like Segura ruffled some feathers, and his effort on the field didn’t match the expectations (however lofty) that fans put on their players.

The acquisition of Didi Gregorius should put Segura on watch both on and off the field. Defensively, Segura’s best season came in 2016 when he primarily played second base, making just nine errors in 142 games. That was also the season he led the league with 203 hits and set career highs with a .319 average, 41 doubles, and 20 home runs.

If Segura doesn’t bounceback, the coaching staff will gladly put Scott Kingery back at his natural position and allow top prospect Alec Bohm to take over the third base job full-time.

The Phillies will simply be better if Segura can live up to his past performances. Hopefully, playing under Joe Girardi will wake Segura up and force him to play hard every day.