Adam Haseley to Be Sidelined Four weeks

The battle for the center field position for the Phillies just got more interesting.

One of the four players that are involved for playing time in center field, Adam Haseley, will be out for at least the next four weeks after being diagnosed with a moderate groin strain.

Haseley suffered the injury during Thursday's game, but will not begin the season on the injured list.

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Scott Kingery, Roman Quinn and Odubel Herrera will now battle for the Opening Day nod.

The interesting story is now Herrera.

Herrera of course is not on the 40-man roster, but is having a strong start to the spring season with a homer, single and even threw a runner at home while playing right field on Thursday against the Yankees.

Keep in mind, Herrera is also a left-handed hitter, same as Haseley, which means the Phillies could use him in a platoon situation in center field, but they could also use him in left field as a right-handed complement to Andrew McCutchen if they want.

Remember, Herrera hit in the No. 1 and No. 3 spots in the order during his all-star season with the Phillies. The Phillies could use Herrera in the lead-off spot in a platoon with McCutchen, and hit him lower in the lineup in a platoon situation in center with Roman Quinn or Scott Kingery.

One other interesting name to keep an eye on, is former No. 1 overall pick Mickey Moniak. Now 22-years old, the 2016 No. 1 overall pick homered in both of his at-bats on Thursday.

As for Haseley, who was having a nice start to the spring, who hit .278 in 92 plate appearances last year, after showing some promise in 2019.  The 24-year-old former first-round pick, hit .266 with five homers and 26 RBI in 67 games during the 2019 season.

My guess is you'll see Herrera in the lineup on Opening day playing center field as a left-handed bat against a right-handed Braves starter, like Ian Anderson or Charlie Morton. If the Braves go with Max Fried, then Roman or Scott Kingery will start.