Phillies: Matt Vierling Matches Decades-Old Franchise Record

Phillies rookie outfielder Matt Vierling is having early success in the majors.

The newest Philadelphia Phillies rookie, outfielder Matt Vierling, has logged just five plate appearances across three games so far in his big-league career. Yet, he already has a three-game hitting streak and has matched a franchise mark last reached 23 years ago.

Thanks to his pinch-hit infield single in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s eventual 3-2 loss to the Washington Nationals, Vierling became the first Phillies player to begin his career with a three-game hitting streak — with at least two pinch-hits — since Marlon Anderson in 1998, according to Ryan Spaeder.

The most recent player to accomplish this feat in MLB overall was Jake Goebbert of the San Diego Padres back in 2014.

Vierling’s first pinch-hit came in his first career plate appearance on Saturday against left-hander Jarlin Garcia and Gabe Kapler‘s San Francisco Giants.

The following day, the 24-year-old made his first MLB start in centerfield and went 1-for-3 including a strikeout, but getting a single off rookie left-hander Sammy Long.

The St. Louis native’s infield single on Tuesday just happened to come against a left-hander as well — three-time All-Star Brad Hand.

Given right-handed hitters are supposed to have a better chance to succeed against left-handed pitchers, it is good to see Vierling take advantage of that early on, helping him to a .600/.600/.600 slash line early on. Vierling even has a stolen base, so he is not just contributing at the plate.

Considering Vierling started the season at Double-A Reading and played just three games at Triple-A Lehigh Valley before his promotion to the majors, it is great to see him having success early on against the Giants and Nationals.

With left-fielder Andrew McCutchen on an expiring contract and Odubel Herrera not exactly the team’s centerfielder of the future, there are plenty of opportunities for Vierling to show he deserves an everyday role come 2022.