5 Phillies Who Have Pleasantly Surprised So Far This Season

5. Jean Segura

Second baseman Jean Segura is reminding fans why he is a two-time All-Star and former top-13 National League MVP Award finalist in his third season in red pinstripes.

While he leads the National League in errors committed at second base (5), his bat is making up for any fielding woes in a significant way. Through 47 games and 193 plate appearances, the Dominican Republic native is slashing .339/.389/.475 with 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 20 RBI, six stolen bases (zero caught stealing), 13 walks, and just 25 strikeouts.

Segura has logged three hits in each of his past three games. A pair of those base knocks sent the Phillies home happy, as they were walk-off hits in the 10th inning against the Atlanta Braves and New York Yankees on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.

The 10-year veteran had another walk-off hit earlier in the season, making him the first Phillies player with three in a season since Ryan Howard in 2014. Segura is also the first Phillies player to deliver back-to-back walk-offs since Juan Samuel in 1985.

Segura had his ups and downs this season, with the low point being a dugout verbal altercation with manager Joe Girardi. The two have since put their disagreement aside, and Girardi has seemed thrilled with his second baseman’s contributions of late.

Segura, along with Ronald Torreyes, Ranger Suarez, Vince Velasquez, and Odubel Herrera, have been pleasant surprises this season. Their success, coupled with J.T. Realmuto, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler, and other Phillies stars who are expected to perform well, just might help the team to its first postseason berth since 2011.