One day after the Phillies embarrassingly lost a game on a wild pitch, the team was struck by more misfortune, as starting shortstop Didi Gregorius has been placed on The COVID-19 Injured List. It isn’t clear yet if the 31-year-old Dutchman has come down with the virus, or was simply exposed to it. Either way, Sir Didi will miss an indefinite amount of time.
Rookie sensation Nick Maton will man shortstop in the absence of Gregorius, allowing him to extend his torrid start to his big league career. As for Gregorius, it marks a tumultuous beginning to the two-year, $28 million contract he inked this past offseason. Always a steady defender, Gregorius has struggled to a .250/.277/.355 slash line over 83 plate appearances to begin the 2021 campaign. Hopefully his stay on the IL will be a short one, and Gregorius can get back to playing the kind of winning baseball the Phillies need.