Roman Quinn will get a look for the rest of the season (Frank Klose/Philliedelphia)
Roman Quinn and Jorge Alfaro wasted no time jumping in a hired car and undertaking a two-hour drive to Washington that felt more like twenty minutes for the enthusiastic Quinn. With the elimination of the Double-A Reading club from the Eastern League playoffs (losing to Trenton on Saturday Night), you didn’t need to look at the betting lines to know that the Phillies would set their sights on Quinn.
Quinn sounded excited after arriving in the visiting clubhouse at Nationals Park Sunday Morning. Manager Peter Mackanin told Quinn soon after that he was in the starting line. This was a dream come true for Quinn, playing center field and batting second so soon after entering the big leagues.
Following the Phils' 3-2 loss to the Nationals, Mackanin was heard saying that the 23-year-old would play a lot in the final nineteen final games. The Phillies’ 2011 second-round draft, Quinn has been compared to the likes of Jimmy Rollins because of his speed and body-type.
Spending his amateur years playing shortstop and centerfield, Quinn was a shortstop for a while during the earlier stages of his pro career. Eventually, he found a home full time in centerfield during the 2014 season, with J.P. Crawford filling the Phillies’ Shortstop requirements.
Successful on 31 of 39 stolen-base attempts, Quinn’s performance set him apart relatively quickly, especially during the training camp where he electrified the bases and the outfield.
Matt Klentak, the general manager, went so far as to take note of him as the most eye-opening player in the camp, which is no small compliment. During his time in the minors, Quinn was heard saying that he would endeavor to maintain his health and avoid the injuries that plagued him in previous seasons.
Naturally, he was unhappy when he failed to achieve a full healthy season, a concussion and an oblique strain sidelining him for some time. While things didn’t exactly go the way he wanted, Quinn was fairly optimistic about his situation, suggesting that there was a purpose in his injuries.
Actually, Quinn believes that, despite his injuries, he has improved in those most important phases of the game. There is a need for players with on-base skills amongst the Phillies’ rankings.
In the offseason, Quinn emphasized his stretching program, clearly determined to avoid injuries at all costs, if only to get playing time in the Dominican Republic.
The Phillies want Quinn to hold down a permanent spot in the majors in centerfield and at the top of the lineup, and they would want him to ascend sooner rather than later. And Quinn could get there by next season, which explains the decision to bring him to the majors.
With Herrera seemingly slipping, the sight of Quinn in centerfield could act as a motivator for him. It wouldn’t be unexpected if Herrera was moved to a corner outfield spot.
Quinn seems uncertain with regards to when he might be ready for the majors full-time. He is better off focusing on the challenges facing him at the present rather than worrying about the coming year. The fact that the Phillies have big plans for him is no secret, though.
