Phillies: 38 player milestones to watch for in 2020 season
By Matt Rappa
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.
RELATED | Vince Velasquez deserves another chance in Phillies rotation
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).