Phillies Position Players So Far ‘Perfect’ When Pitching

Phillies position players are perfect on the mound this season.

It is never something to be proud of when Philadelphia Phillies manager Joe Girardi turns to one of the team’s position players to get outs on the mound.

Across last season’s 60-game schedule, Girardi called on the since-retired Neil Walker once to record the final two outs of an 11-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles.

The team is just past the mathematical midway point of this 162-game season, and Girardi has already used three different position players — infielders Nick Maton and Ronald Torreyes, as well as backup catcher Andrew Knapp.

Combined, the trio has excelled and done exactly what was asked of them — limit damage while sparing actual Phillies relievers from having to pitch in all-but-guaranteed losses. In terms of baseball statistics, Maton, Torreyes, and Knapp have been perfect — combining for 1 2/3 scoreless innings allowing no hits nor walks, and striking out one batter.

Torreyes is the most recent of the three to throw. He needed just five pitches to mow down three Boston Red Sox batters in Friday’s series opener loss at Fenway Park. It was the seven-year veteran’s first career appearance on the mound.

Earlier in the season, Maton (June 28, at Cincinnati Reds) and Knapp (July 4, vs. San Diego Padres) also made their pitching debuts, tossing a third of an inning each. On just four pitches, the rookie Maton struck out Reds pitcher Tony Santillan, the only batter he faced.

As Paul Boye notes, former Phillies manager Gabe Kapler called on his position players to make five appearances in each of his two seasons in red pinstripes. So far, Girardi has just four combined … but there is plenty of season still to be played.

Hopefully, we see less of Torreyes, Maton, and Knapp, and much more of an actual setup man and/or closer — Craig Kimbrel, anyone? — late in games.