The Phillies lost a starting right fielder on Wednesday, and now they may get a glimpse of their future.
Hours after learning that Adolis García suffered a right latissimus dorsi tear that will sideline him for at least two months, the Phillies promoted outfield prospect Gabriel Rincones Jr. from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and handed him his first major-league opportunity.
The 25-year-old will make his major-league debut Friday night against the Brewers, batting seventh and starting in right field against Milwaukee flamethrower Jacob Misiorowski.
The promotion comes amid a significant reshuffling of the Phillies' outfield.
García, who injured himself on a throw to the plate during Wednesday's game in Toronto, was transferred directly to the 60-day injured list. He is not eligible to return until Aug. 11, although the organization has not yet determined whether the injury could threaten the remainder of his season.
The timing is particularly unfortunate for García.
After enduring one of the worst offensive stretches of his career in May, the veteran had begun to show signs of life in June, posting a .774 OPS over his first nine games June. While his overall offensive production remained below expectations, his defensive presence in right field had become valuable assets for a Phillies club searching for consistency.
The injury immediately created both a roster opening and a lineup dilemma.
President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski addressed part of the problem Thursday by acquiring veteran outfielder Derek Hill from the White Sox in exchange for minor-league prospects Dylan Campbell and Jose Colmenares. The Phillies also received international bonus pool money in the transaction while designating right-hander Jackson Rutledge for assignment to clear a 40-man roster spot.
Hill arrived in Milwaukee on Thursday and gives the Phillies something they have lacked for much of the season — a legitimate option against left-handed pitching.
The 30-year-old owns a career .272/.317/.463 slash line against southpaws and has experience at all three outfield positions. Although Hill has produced a modest .213/.284/.375 line over 50 games this season, the Phillies view him as a versatile defender whose speed and platoon profile could fill an immediate need.
The Phillies entered the weekend hitting just .220/.305/.381 against left-handed pitching, among the least productive marks in the National League.
That reality likely shapes how manager Don Mattingly constructs his outfield over the coming weeks.
Against right-handed pitching, the Phillies can deploy a young, athletic alignment featuring Brandon Marsh in left, Justin Crawford in center and Rincones in right.
Against left-handers, Hill figures to become a significant part of the equation. A configuration featuring Edmundo Sosa in left field, Hill in center and Marsh in right would allow the Phillies to maximize platoon advantages while maintaining defensive flexibility.
In many ways, the arrangement resembles the two-platoon outfield approach the club employed earlier this season.
But the biggest storyline belongs to Rincones.
The former third-round pick entered spring training with a legitimate chance to force his way into the major-league conversation before knee soreness in both legs sidelined him throughout camp and delayed the start of his season by more than a month.
He began a rehab assignment with Jersey Shore on May 5 and did not appear for Lehigh Valley until May 26.
The offensive numbers have been modest. Rincones is 11-for-46 with two doubles for the IronPigs this season. But the Phillies remain intrigued by the power that produced 18 home runs in 506 plate appearances at Triple-A last year and the patient approach that has long been part of his offensive profile.
Now, with García sidelined and the Phillies searching for answers in the outfield, Rincones will receive an opportunity that seemed unlikely just a few weeks ago.
For a club attempting to stay afloat in a crowded National League race, necessity has opened the door.
The question now is whether one of the organization's top outfield prospects can force it to stay open.
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