Phillies Lose Middlebrooks After Collision
Veteran utility infielder Will Middlebrooks joined the Phillies this season looking for an opportunity to make the major league roster as a bench player. Those aspirations came to a quick halt on Saturday afternoon when in the eighth inning of the Phillies' game against the Baltimore Orioles, Middlebrooks went into left field to catch a pop up and collided with outfielder Andrew Pullin. Middlebrooks was carted off the field. Sunday we learned not fully the extent of the injury, but that it is a serious injury.
Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports that Middlebrooks sustained a fractured fibula and "possibly further damage to his left ankle". Middlebrooks likely will need surgery once he is fully evaluated. Zolecki noted that Middlebrooks arrived to the ballpark on Sunday in a cast and was walking with crutches.
Middlebrooks was competing with a number of other candidates for a bench job with the Phillies. With only Carlos Santana, Rhys Hoskins and Tommy Joseph in camp capable of first base, the Phillies used catcher Logan Moore at the position on Sunday afternoon, an appearance that very well may have been given to Middlebrooks.
The Phillies could decide to another player to take the place of Middlebrooks in camp to help staff the Grapefruit League action. A large number of free agents remain, and one may be added on a minor league deal with an invitation to Spring Training. Middlebrooks most definitely will not be able to help the Phillies the rest of Spring.