Phillies: 38 player milestones to watch for in 2020 season

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Phillies player milestones to watch for in 2020 season

Being able to watch Philadelphia Phillies baseball amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic is something we should not take for granted.

Although fans cannot be inside the ballpark for the foreseeable future, being able to still watch the games on television and listen on the radio helps continue a near 150-year tradition of Phillies baseball in the city of brotherly love.

When following the sport, not only do spectators (this year from afar) watch for overall team success and a hopeful postseason clinch, but also to see how the individual players fare across the season. And, with it, come player milestones; there are several current Phillies on the brink of achieving feats.

Jake Arrieta

(249) – 250 games started

Right-handed starting pitcher Jake Arrieta is approaching 60 career starts (58) with just the Phillies, but, overall across his 11-year career, he needs just one more to reach 250. It appears likely that Arrieta will reach the 250 career starts milestone in the upcoming two-game road set opposite the Boston Red Sox at the historic Fenway Park.

(1,485) – 1,500 innings pitched

Arrieta logged 803 innings while donning a Chicago Cubs uniform, accounting for more than half of his career total to date. He needs just 15 more frames to reach the 1,500 mark; it will take him three starts at most, or, sooner if he throws deep into his next two starts.

Jay Bruce

(591) – 600 walks

Thirteen-year veteran Jay Bruce is one of the few players that were active when the Phillies last won a World Series in 2008; in fact, the Beaumont, Texas, native was a rookie that year with the Cincinnati Reds.

Bruce tallied 33 walks that season, and needs just nine more to reach 600 for his career. In 2011, during one of his three All-Star seasons, Bruce set a single-season career high in the category with 71.

(12,936 1/3) – 13,000 innings fielded as an outfielder

Assuming Phillies manager Joe Girardi continues to have Andrew McCutchen start as designated hitter, there should be plenty of innings for Bruce to accumulate in left field. He needs to field just 63 2/3 more innings in the outfield to reach 13,000 all-time.

(2980) – 3,000 putouts as an outfielder

Likewise, Bruce needs just 20 more putouts in the outfield to record 3,000 for his career.

Following Friday evening’s 6-2 win over the New York Mets, the Phillies have just 44 more games left to play in the season, meaning Bruce has some time to achieve at least one of the three above milestones.

While Bruce’s contract expires after the 2020 season, he surely can find another big-league deal if the Phillies do not re-sign him; among the achievable milestones for him in 2021 includes reaching 1,000 career RBI; he currently has 941. The Phillies acquired Bruce from the Seattle Mariners in early June 2019 in exchange for minor-league infielder and outfielder Jake Scheiner.

Didi Gregorius

(147) – 150 doubles

While Didi Gregorius‘ popularity skyrocketed during his five seasons with the New York Yankees from 2015 to 2019, it is easy to forget that he began his career with the Cincinnati Reds in 2012, followed by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013-14.

Gregorius logged just 25 combined doubles with those teams before joining the Yankees, where he slugged 120 across 660 games. Now, the Amsterdam, Netherlands, native needs just three more to reach 150 for his career.

(19) – 20 triples

Excluding his 2012 rookie season, Gregorius has logged at least two triples in all but one season — Joe Girardi‘s last year with the Yankees in 2017 in which the infielder finished in 20th place in the American League Most Valuable Player Award voting.

Expect Gregorius to be able to power for at least one triple while donning red pinstripes in 2020; perhaps, it could come via a ricochet off of the left-center field wall at Citizens Bank Park, or even off the Green Monster in the Phillies’ upcoming two-game road set at Fenway Park opposite the Boston Red Sox.

(397) – 400 double plays turned in the field

Gregorius has already turned some spectacular double plays this season, working with no matter who the Phillies’ second baseman is — such as Scott Kingery, or, more recently, Jean Segura. Gregorous needs just three more to reach 400 for his career.

With Gregorius’ one-year contract set to expire following the 2020 season, the Phillies will have to decide not only whether to bring back J.T. Realmuto, but also the shortstop.

Phil Gosselin

(48) – 50 RBI

West Chester native Phil Gosselin has surely turned some heads so far this season. Although he is now an eight-year veteran, entering 2020 he had logged just 42 career RBI. Now, he has produced six more just in 2020 alone, and needs just two additional to reach 50 for his career.

Gosselin has surely earned his “Barrels” nickname in the early going, slashing .400/.483/.720 spanning 10 games and 29 plate appearances.

His summer camp performance, in particular, is what earned him a roster spot over fellow non-roster invitee veteran infielders, such as Logan Forsythe (now with the Miami Marlins) and Josh Harrison (now with the Washington Nationals).

Gosselin first appeared with the Phillies in 2019, after previously playing for the Atlanta Braves, Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, and Cincinnati Reds. Under then-manager Gabe Kapler, Gosselin slashed .262/.294/.308 across 68 plate appearances. He has already accumulated 29 plate appearances this season.

Deolis Guerra

(81) – 90 strikeouts

Right-handed reliever Deolis Guerra is among the several Phillies relievers that have not had success in the early going. Spanning six appearances, three of which finished a game in 2020, Guerra has posted a 10.80 ERA — allowing four hits, seven runs (six earned), three home runs and one walk across just five innings

Nonetheless, amid this stretch, the five-year veteran has still found a way to strike out batters, punching out six. He needs just nine more this season to reach 90 for his career.

Before joining the Phillies, Guerra previously played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2015, Los Angeles Angels in 2016-17, and the Milwaukee Brewers in 2019.

Bryce Harper

(223) – 230 home runs

The nine-year veteran Harper and former No. 1 overall pick by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 amateur draft is bound to always approach a career milestone. He has a good chance to reach and eclipse at least five in the shortened 2020 season, starting with home runs.

After already slugging four home runs through 16 games, Harper needs just seven more to reach 230 for his career. Only 24 active players currently have 230 or more home runs in their respective careers, one of which includes fellow Phillies corner outfielder Jay Bruce (315) — who trails only Albert Pujols (659), Miguel Cabrera (481), Edwin Encarnacion (416), Nelson Cruz (407), Ryan Braun (344), and Robinson Cano (326) on the active leaderboard.

Harper needs just one more home run to reach 40 while donning red pinstripes; 184 of his current 223 career home runs came with the Nationals from 2012 to 2018.

(647) – 650 RBI

(695) – 700 walks

(9,296 2/3) – 9,300 innings fielded as an outfielder

Harper achieving 650 career RBI could take as few as one more game played for him to reach the milestone, considering he has two three-RBI games already in 2020.

Likewise, it should not take long for Harper to walk five more times to reach 700 for his career. He has already walked 11 times across 16 games and 66 plate appearances this season.

Also, the six-time All-Star needs to field just 2 1/3 more frames to reach 9,300 all-time.

(93) – 100 stolen bases

Harper has successfully stolen three bases this season, while yet to be caught. His three stolen bases ranks as ninth-most in the National League. Achieving 100 career stolen bases may be the milestone that is most difficult for Harper to achieve in 2020, but it could happen. In 2016, Harper set a single-season career high in stolen bases with 21 while with the Nationals.

Rhys Hoskins

(1,590) – 1,600 putouts as first baseman

The next-most achievable milestone for the four-year veteran Rhys Hoskins does not involve being at the plate, but rather in the field as a first baseman — a position he has had not really assumed full-time until the departure of Carlos Santana via a trade to the Seattle Mariners.

Hoskins needs to record just 10 more putouts at first base to reach 1,600 for his career.

Tommy Hunter

(844 2/3) – 850 innings pitched

Thirteen-year veteran reliever Tommy Hunter is the most experienced arm currently in the Phillies bullpen. Now in his third season with the team, Hunter needs to log just 5 1/3 more innings to reach 850 innings pitched in his career.

Most of those frames came in his parts of six seasons spent with the Baltimore Orioles, where Hunter logged 407 innings.

(95) – 100 holds

A second achievable milestone for Hunter in 2020 is holds; he needs just five more to reach the century mark. Hunter recorded his first hold in Friday’s 6-5 series opener win against the New York Mets, where he pitched a scoreless 1 2/3 innings in the seventh and eighth innings.

Overall in 2020, Hunter has posted a 6.00 ERA, allowing four earned runs in six innings.

Scott Kingery

(27) – 30 home runs

(91) – 100 RBI

Scott Kingery may now be back in the utility player role with top prospect Alec Bohm promoted to the big leagues, and Jean Segura taking over his former everyday position of second base. However, Kingery has been said that he will still receive regular at-bats. During Saturday’s 6-2 win against the Mets, for example, Kingery started in center field over Roman Quinn.

The three-veteran veteran in Kingery needs just three more home runs to reach 30 for his career; while he has yet to homer in 2020, the Phoenix, Arizona, native slugged a career-high 19 in 2019 spanning 126 games and 500 plate appearances.

Kingery also needs just nine more RBI to reach the century mark in that category for his career. He has just one so far this season, but posted a career-high 55 in 2019.

Andrew McCutchen

(48) – 50 triples

With Andrew McCutchen coming off of a pretty significant injury in 2019, it may not be reasonable to expect he can run out two triples in a shortened 2020 season. But, it is still a possibility.

The 12-year veteran had one triple in 59 games during his first season in red pinstripes in 2019. He posted as many as nine in 108 games while as a rookie with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009.

Adam Morgan

(188) – 200 games

(291) – 300 strikeouts

Left-handed reliever Adam Morgan has come a long way as a Phillie, starting his career in 2015 and 2016 in the rotation before transitioning full-time to the bullpen. The Tampa, Florida, native needs just 12 more games and nine more strikeouts to reach 200 and 300, respectively for his career.

Aaron Nola

(797 2/3) – 800 innings pitched

(863) – 900 strikeouts

Aaron Nola appears to be off to his best season yet; posting historic numbers in the process. Following his outing Saturday evening, the right-hander became the first Phillies pitcher to allow three or fewer hits while striking out eight or more batters in three straight starts — since the current mound distance was established (1893), notes the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Matt Breen.

Nola will surely reach and pass 800 career innings pitched during his next start later this week. If he continues his near 10 strikeouts per start rate, he could reach 900 career strikeouts in as few as four starts, which would take us to early-to-mid-September.

Hector Neris

(69) – 70 saves

Right-handed closer Hector Neris has had two chances to reach 70 career saves, but has blown back-to-back opportunities against the Baltimore Orioles and New York Mets, allowing a combined four runs in two innings.

Once Neris reaches 70 career saves, he will become just the ninth Phillies reliever ever to do so, joining Jonathan Papelbon (123), Jose Mesa (112), Steve Bedrosian (103), Mitch Williams (102), Brad Lidge (100), Tug McGraw (94), Ron Reed (90), and Ricky Bottalico (78).

Blake Parker

(291) – 300 games

(288.0) – 300 innings pitched

Eight-year veteran Blake Parker recently joined the big-league roster for the first time in 2020, after having his contract purchased from the Phillies alternate training site in Lehigh Valley.

While the right-hander posted a 5.04 ERA in 2019, so far, he appears to have improved one year later. Through two appearances, Parker has tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings while striking out four of his nine batters faced.

Parker needs just nine more appearances to reach 300 for his career, as well as 12 more innings to reach the same 300 mark. Both could be accomplished around the same time if manager Joe Girardi uses him for longer than one inning in each appearance.

J.T. Realmuto

(92) – 100 home runs

(346) – 350 RBI

(5,494.0) – 5,500 innings fielding as catcher

Just as Aaron Nola is doing on the mound, catcher J.T. Realmuto is putting up eye-catching numbers so far in the 2020 season.

The perennial All-Star catcher’s eight home runs through the Phillies’ first 15 games tied him with Hall of Famer Gabby Hartnett in 1925 for the most by a primary catcher through as many games since 1920 (Live-Ball era).

Realmuto needs just eight more home runs to reach 100 for his career, as well as four RBI to reach 350. The latter of the two could be achieved by as early as the two-game road set against the Boston Red Sox at the historic Fenway Park. If Realmuto homers at least eight more times in 2020, that would give him an impressive 16 across just a shortened 60-game season.

In addition, Realmuto needs just six more innings fielding as a catcher to reach the even 5,500 mark for his career.

Jean Segura

(79) – 80 home runs

Second baseman Jean Segura provided early spark for the Phillies offense in their eventual 6-2 win over the New York Mets on Saturday, slugging a solo home run to give the team an early 1-0 lead.

The nine-year veteran already has three home runs through 15 games in 2020, after hitting 12 through 144 games in 2019.

Segura needs just one more blast to reach 80 for his career.

(1199.0) – 1,200 innings fielded as second baseman

(392) – 400 assists as second baseman

As previously mentioned, Segura has teamed up with shortstop Didi Gregorius to showcase some pretty impressive turned double plays. Segura needs just one more inning at second base to log 1,200 in his career at the position, and eight more assists to reach the 400 mark.

Vince Velasquez

(580) – 600 strikeouts

Right-handed pitcher Vince Velasquez has shuffled between the starting rotation and the bullpen in recent seasons. Most recently, with top pitching prospect Spencer Howard’s call up, it appears as though Velasquez is back in the bullpen.

Regardless, it is likely the right-hander will be able to log 20 more strikeouts this season to reach 600 for his career. Velasquez already has recorded 11 this season through eight innings; overall, he has punched out 522 batters in red pinstripes across 475 innings. He struck out 58 in 55 2/3 innings with the Houston Astros in 2015.

So far in 2020, Velasquez has posted a 7.88 ERA spanning two starts and one relief appearance. His current 12.4 strikeouts per nine innings ratio is a career-high, with the next highest mark coming in his first season with the Phillies in 2016 (10.4).

Neil Walker

(149) – 150 home runs

Twelve-year veteran Neil Walker needs just one more home run to reach 150 for his career. He has yet to go deep while in red pinstripes in 2020, however, slashing 133/.188/.200 with a single, double, walk and three strikeouts spanning 16 plate appearances.

Along with Phil Gosselin, Walker’s summer camp performance earned him a roster spot over fellow non-roster invitee veteran infielders, such as Logan Forsythe (now with the Miami Marlins) and Josh Harrison (now with the Washington Nationals).

Zack Wheeler #45 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

Zach Wheeler

(46) – 50 wins

(129) – 130 games started

(734) – 750 strikeouts

Phillies No. 2 rotation arm Zack Wheeler is on the brink of three significant milestones for a starting pitcher. He needs just four more wins to reach 50, one more start to reach 130, and 16 more strikeouts to reach 750 for his career.

So far in three starts in red pinstripes, the right-hander is a perfect 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.286 WHIP, and 8-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio spanning 18 2/3 innings.

So, across these 38 milestones, there are surely a lot to watch for when it comes to Phillies baseball in the 2020 season.

Some of these player milestones are more achievable than others, but it is still fun to follow the team as it progresses its way through the shortened slate.

It is easy to forget that players like Jay Bruce have logged significant experience over the years. It is good to see Bryce Harper continue to climb the all-time rankings as well spanning several categories at the plate.

Time will tell just how far Bruce, Harper and their fellow teammates go in the Phillies’ first season under manager Joe Girardi.

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