PHILADELPHIA — When the Phillies signed Whit Merrifield this spring, they attached an $8 million label that said “super utility.”
The details would be explained during the 162 games. But initially, it would give Rob Thomson permission to use the three-time All-Star all over the field, as both the team’s fourth outfielder, its fifth infielder and almost its third catcher.
Wednesday, as rain poured down in South Philadelphia, it meant Thomson wrote in Merrifield’s name as the third baseman for the series finale with Cincinnati, only the fourth time in 1,001 major league starts that Merrifield played third base. The last three times were in his rookie season of 2016.
“He played pretty well there in spring training,” Thomson said. “He’s reliable wherever he plays.”
That will be the summary of Merrifield’s career, in his ninth MLB season at age 35.
Trained as a second baseman by Kansas City, he’s become a master of all positions. Second base has been his primary position for 719 of his 1,109 games. He spent most of his time in the outfield in 2020 and 149 games at second in 2021. A hard-working player who didn’t miss a game from 2019-21 and has played over 145 games in a season five times in his career, Merrifield is willing to do whatever it takes to get in the lineup.
Rarely was he positioned at third, though: only six times for 31 total innings in his career. A seventh time was during Sunday’s two-inning appearance, which came in a game he started at second base and moved when Bryson Stott came in as a pinch-hitter.
In Game 6 of the season, Merrifield was scheduled for his fourth start: two in left field, one at second and one at third.
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Orion Kerkering had his second rehabilitation outing on Tuesday night, pitching one scoreless inning in Clearwater at an intrasquad game. He allowed no hits, struck out one and threw 15 pitches, 10 of them strikes. His fastball reached 96 mph.
Kerkering made his first rehabilitation appearance on Saturday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley before the location of his second outing was changed due to weather. He’s expected to have another on Saturday.
“It’s another strong arm coming out of your bullpen,” Thomson said. “We just want to ensure he’s good. He’s young, he’s talented, he hasn’t spent much time here. The adrenaline rush will be greater than for an experienced player.”
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NOTES >> Taijuan Walker (shoulder) will throw batting practice on Saturday in Washington. … Both the Phillies and Reds were working hard to preserve off days Thursday after Wednesday’s heavy rain. The Reds return home Friday to face the Mets. The Phillies head to Washington, where Aaron Nola will start Friday night at 6:45. Ranger Suarez follows on Saturday, then Cristopher Sanchez on Sunday. Washington’s starters are still to be determined.
