4 surprise players who’ve dominated Phillies spring training
By Tim Boyle
2) Phillies infielder Kody Clemens is making his presence known
Gregory Soto might be the player that Phillies fans are most eager to see play from the Detroit Tigers trade, however, it’s important not to sleep on Kody Clemens. He wasn’t very good for the Tigers last year, batting .145/.197/.308 in his first 127 major league plate appearances. He lowered the bar for himself. He has now raised it a few inches with an impressive spring.
In 38 plate appearances, Clemens has slashed .324/.395/.647. Among his 11 hits we find a pair of doubles and 3 home runs. Clemens has driven in 8 along the way while securing himself one of the most unexpectedly awesome springs on the roster.
The left-handed hitting infielder won’t be flying under the radar any more. He has had success in the minors, often putting up decent power numbers along the way. Could Clemens’ destiny ultimately lead him to becoming a left-handed bat off the bench?
Clemens might not be as much of a “throw in” to this trade as it originally seemed. The Phillies needed replacements for Matt Vierling and Nick Maton. Clemens has entered the competition with his surprisingly dominant spring.
We won’t see Clemens jerseys at Citizens Bank Ballpark just yet nor should we expect it. Clemens has a long way to go before we stop immediately thinking of him as Roger’s son.