Daily News | Phillies newcomer Bradley Zimmer slots right into center field against Mets
Bradley Zimmer has had a himself a week. On Monday, he was designated for assignment by the Toronto Blue Jays. Three days later, he got a call from the Phillies, who were suddenly in need of a center fielder after Brandon Marsh attempted to make a leaping catch that resulted in a bone bruise in his knee and a slight ankle sprain.
Zimmer went from “sitting around, waiting for a call,” to packing his bags for Philadelphia. The Phillies claimed him off waivers on Thursday, and by Friday, interim manager Rob Thomson had penciled Zimmer into his starting lineup.Thomson called Zimmer on Thursday night and asked if he was comfortable making a start in center field — something Zimmer hadn’t done since Aug. 9 — and Zimmer said he was.
“I kind of prepared for that, knowing that wherever I go, I’m probably going to play,” he said. “Do what you can to stay ready.” The Phillies like Zimmer’s defense, and are hopeful that his bat will come around with regular playing time. In Toronto, Zimmer was used as a late-game defensive replacement. He made only three starts, two of them in center field. That amounted to 76 at-bats — in which he slashed .105/.209/.237.
Zimmer was Cleveland’s first-round pick in 2014 and played there for five seasons, slashing .226/.310/.348. He has nine defensive runs saved in 1,686⅓ innings played in center field, according to FanGraphs. Thomson said that Zimmer will share playing time in center field with Matt Vierling.When it was reported that Noah Syndergaard would not make a start against the Mets at home this weekend, Mets fans assumed it was because Syndergaard didn’t want to face them.
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