Haseley Shines in IronPigs Debut

Adam Haseley, the Phillies’ 2017 first round draft pick, made a splash in his Triple-A debut with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Wednesday. In the second game of a double header, the center fielder went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored.

The Phils’ third-ranked prospect, Haseley started the season with Double-A Reading. In 41 games with the Fightins he slashed .268/.356/.471 while collecting 19 RBIs and leading the team in runs scored with 27.

Haseley’s promotion comes on the heels of Odubel Herrera’s arrest for domestic violence and subsequent placement on administrative leave. To fill Herrera’s position on the 25-man roster, the Phillies recalled Nick Williams from the IronPigs. They plan, for the time being, to platoon Williams and Scott Kingery in center field. Haseley’s promotion, if nothing else, fills the roster spot left open by Williams’ departure.

Even without the need to fill the spot, though, Haseley has quietly been putting up some of the best numbers of the Phillies’ prospects in 2019 and has earned himself a call-up to Lehigh Valley. In the month of May he slashed .337/.410/.584 with five home runs, 13 RBIs and 18 runs scored. The fact that center field has suddenly become an organizational deficiency simply makes his path to the majors a little easier.

If Herrera’s absence does become permanent, the Phillies will need to find a better solution in center field than the current platoon. They have multiple options, including giving either Williams or Kingery the full-time job or trading for a current MLB player. But while the Phillies would need to make room on the 40-man roster for him, Haseley has the opportunity to play himself into a position to contend for that role. Especially if he continues to produce at the Triple-A level like he did in Reading.