Phillies place Roman Quinn on injured list (again), schedule Jake Arrieta for season-ending surgery
Oft-injured Quinn is headed back to the injured list with a recurrence of a groin strain.
Just as he seemed to be finally getting into a groove, luckless center fielder Roman Quinn headed back to the injury list -- for the third time this season.
Quinn was double-switched out of Friday night's game in the ninth inning after straining a right groin muscle while running out a grounder to second base. It's similar to the injury that caused him to miss a month earlier this season, although Quinn said he doesn't believe it's as severe.
But given Quinn's checkered injury history -- he has dealt with a torn quadriceps, a torn Achilles tendon, a strained elbow, a torn ligament in his middle finger, a concussion and a broken toe throughout his eight seasons in the minor leagues and the majors -- the Phillies will be cautious about rushing him back.
"With Roman, I think it's a bit unique," manager Gabe Kapler said. "His body hasn't cooperated with him the way he wants it to. Normally when we see a player as impactful and as dynamic as Roman, you want to run him out there every day. We learned last year that that wasn't really a possibility. It's just part of being a major-league player, getting your body ready to play and working hard to stay strong and healthy, and it's a formula that we're constantly tinkering with to try to find the best fit for Roman."
Quinn is 14-for-38 (.368) with three homers and four stolen bases this month. In his absence, rookie Adam Haseley figures to play nearly every day in center field.
Newly acquired reliever Jared Hughes joined the Phillies on Saturday and took Quinn’s spot on the roster. The Phillies claimed Hughes off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds.
Hughes has a 4.10 ERA in 47 appearances this season. But of the 127 relievers who worked at least 200 innings from 2014-18, Hughes ranked ninth with a 2.41 ERA behind Zack Britton, Andrew Miller, Wade Davis, Aroldis Chapman, Dellin Betances, Kenley Jansen, Craig Kimbrel and Mark Melancon.
"I definitely haven't pitched as well I would like, but at the same time I’m always learning from it," Hughes said. "I learned a lot of lessons this year and I’m going to go out and use them here."
Arrieta surgery imminent
Jake Arrieta will have season-ending surgery, as expected, to remove a bone spur from his right elbow. An imaging test this week confirmed Arrieta’s hunch that it’s best to have it done sooner than later.
Arrieta will undergo the procedure at the end of August, according to Kapler. Arrieta is expected to be ready for the beginning of spring training next year. He will make $20 million in 2020, the final year of his three-year, $75 million contract.
Extra bases
Rhys Hoskins returned to the lineup after a one-game absence with a sore right hand from getting hit by a pitch Thursday night. ... Left-hander Jason Vargas (6-6, 4.03 ERA) will start the series finale Sunday against Padres lefty Joey Lucchesi (7-7, 4.25).