A day after he was supplanted at second base by prospect Ozzie Albies, veteran Brandon Phillips not only agreed to move to third base, but was in the Braves’ lineup Wednesday night at the new position for the second game of a series against the Dodgers at SunTrust Park.
It had been 16 years since Phillips played third base, and that for just one game in Double-A when he was still in the Montreal Expos organization in 2001.
But after working with infield coach Ron Washington and bench coach/former third baseman Terry Pendleton on the field for about a half-hour Wednesday afternoon before batting practice, the 36-year-old was at third base and batting in his usual second spot in the lineup.
And manager Brian Snitker said he planned to play Phillips there on a regular basis, at least for the immediate future.
“I talked to him (later Tuesday) afternoon, he wants to play,” Snitker said. “He’s a ballplayer. I’m glad. He’ll do a great job there. It’ll be good for us to have him over there.”
Phillips declined to speak with reporters for the second day since Snitker announced Tuesday that Albies would be the primary second baseman after he was called up Tuesday from Triple-A. Albies, 20, is the youngest player in the majors and the first major leaguer to be born in 1997.
When Snitker met with reporters Tuesday before batting practice, he had spoken with Phillips and told him the Braves planned to have Albies as the primary second baseman and that Snitker hoped that Phillips would consider playing third base.
He said Phillips wanted to think about the situation, but by the time they spoke again later Tuesday, Phillips told him he would do it.
The former four-time Gold Glove-winning second baseman showed up at SunTrust Park early Wednesday to take grounders and get some tips from Washington and Pendleton, but even before the on-field tutorial Snitker said he’d already made out the lineup with Phillips at third base.
“It’s good for our club because he fills a valuable spot hitting second all the time,” Snitker said. “And like I say, he can play third, he’s a baseball player. I said, ‘Brandon, you probably could go play anywhere on the diamond, you’re a ballplayer.’
“There was a lot (for Phillips) to process yesterday; I get that. We come back from a 12-day road trip and wake up and somebody gets called up to play second base and we want you to play third. But he wrapped his arms around it, he was out here working early with Wash.
“His hands and reactions and arm and the whole thing, they play pretty well over there (at third base). Going forward if he’s going to continue his career this will do nothing but help him. Whether it’s here or somewhere else or wherever.
“The way I look at it. We don’t have a young kid (third baseman) beating the door down other than Rio (Ruiz). Brandon can really hit. So we’ll see how it goes.”
Snitker said Phillips would still get some starts at second base when the manager rests Albies, and said that others, including Sean Rodriguez and Danny Santana could fill in at third base on those occasions. The Braves also have impressive and versatile rookie Johan Camargo, but he’s served as the primary shortstop since Dansby Swanson was sent to Triple-A last week.
Braves star Freddie Freeman played third base for 16 games, but was moved back to his regular first-base position Tuesday and is presumably done with third base. Matt Adams was switched from first base to left field and will play that position on a regular basis, at least until Matt Kemp returns from a hamstring injury.
Adonis Garcia started the season at third base for the Braves, but wasn’t productive at the plate and had a couple of injuries, the most severe a torn finger ligament that required mid-June surgery. He’s still at least a couple of weeks from returning and will need to go on a minor league rehab stint before rejoining the Braves, who could wait to add him when rosters can expand in September.
Snitker said the Braves have different personnel now than they did a few weeks ago, “So we’re adjusting. We get some new guys in here and move things around, just to try and – we’re doing everything we can to try and make us the best team we can be with what we’ve got right now is the way I can put it, I guess.
“(Third base) could be less taxing on (Phillips) than playing second, with the diving and the range that he plays. He can react right there. He has the good hands and the accurate arm, all that kind of stuff. He possesses all the tools. I’m hoping this ends up being a good thing for him in his career and for us and everybody.”
