The Phillies made a move to address their thin outfield on Thursday, claiming speedy center fielder Bradley Zimmer off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. To make room on the active roster, fellow outfielder Brandon Marsh was placed on the 10-day IL with a left ankle sprain. Bryce Harper was moved to the 60-day IL to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Zimmer was a hot prospect coming up through the then-Cleveland Indians organization after being drafted in the first round back in 2014. Unfortunately, he failed to figure out major league pitching during his five years in Cleveland, posting an ugly .225/.310/.347 line across 858 plate appearances. Things haven’t gotten better in 2022 with the Blue Jays, as he’s only hit .105/.209/.237 in 87 trips to the plate.
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Despite his offensive limitations, Zimmer does provide tremendous defense and speed, as he’s tallied 11 defensive runs saved in his career, and has swiped 41 bags with only seven failed attempts. He likely won’t stick around in the City of Brotherly Love for a while, only filling in for the injured Marsh. Once the Phils’ new trade acquisition is back on his feet, Zimmer is likely to be the sacrificial lamb.