Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Tue 6/7/22 3:51 PM

Vierling was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.
EDGE Analysis
Vierling spent nearly a month with the Triple-A club and slashed .271/.347/.459 with two homers, 15 runs, nine RBI and eight stolen bases over 21 games in Lehigh Valley. He'll serve as utility depth for Philadelphia after Johan Camargo (knee) was placed on the 10-day injured list Tuesday.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Wed 5/11/22 12:10 PM

Vierling was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Wednesday.
EDGE Analysis
Vierling made the Phillies' Opening Day roster this year, but he recently fell into a short-side platoon role. After hitting .170 with two doubles, four RBI, three runs and a stolen base over 23 major-league games to the year, he'll head to Lehigh Valley, where he should see more consistent playing time.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Sun 4/24/22 4:28 PM

Vierling will start in center field and bat ninth Sunday against the Brewers, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Though he'll crack the lineup in the series finale with southpaw Eric Lauer on the mound, the righty-hitting Vierling looks to have lost his spot atop the depth chart in center field. The lefty-hitting Odubel Herrera returned from the injured list Friday and proceeded to start the past two games in center field against right-handed pitchers. Herrera should handle the large side of a platoon moving forward.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Sun 4/17/22 12:27 PM

Vierling is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Marlins, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Vierling still appears to be locked into a near-everyday role in center field while Odubel Herrera (oblique) and Mickey Moniak (hand) are on the injured list, but the rookie will nonetheless find himself on the bench for the second time this series. Manager Joe Girardi is likely just playing matchups, as the lefty-hitting Simon Muzziotti will replace the righty-hitting Vierling against right-hander Elieser Hernandez. Muzziotti's lack of extended reps above the High-A level makes it unlikely that he'll make a push for a strong-side platoon role, so Vierling's playing time still appears fairly secure.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Fri 4/15/22 3:23 PM

Vierling isn't starting Friday's game against Miami.
EDGE Analysis
Vierling will get a breather after he went 0-for-5 with a run, an RBI and a strikeout in the last two games. Simon Muzziotti will start in center field and bat ninth.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Tue 4/12/22 3:13 PM

Vierling will sit Tuesday against the Mets.
EDGE Analysis
Vierling started the first four games of the season in center field, as both of his potential platoon partners, Odubel Herrera (oblique) and Mickey Moniak (hand), are on the injured list. He'll get a rest Tuesday, with Simon Muzziotti taking over in center field.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Thu 4/7/22 5:47 PM

Vierling is expected to start the season as the Phillies' everyday center fielder after Mickey Moniak was diagnosed Thursday with a hairline fracture in his wrist, an injury that will likely sideline him for six weeks, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Philadelphia preferred to open the season with the right-handed Vierling in a short-side platoon role in center field, but injuries to the lefty-hitting Odubel Herrera (oblique) and now the lefty-hitting Moniak have foiled those plans. Like Moniak, Herrera is trending toward a multi-week absence, so Vierling could a long leash in a near-everyday role if the Phillies don't look outside the organization for further reinforcements in the outfield. The Phillies intend to call up Simon Muzziotti from the minors to add depth in center field in the short term, but with only 50 career plate appearances above the Double-A level to his name, he's unlikely to be asked to handle the large side of a platoon.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Wed 4/6/22 11:39 AM

Vierling is expected to fill the smaller side of a platoon in center field with Mickey Moniak to begin the season, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
Earlier in the spring, the righty-hitting Vierling was expected to form a platoon with the newly re-signed Odubel Herrera, but those plans were scrapped after Herrera was diagnosed with an oblique strain that will likely keep him on the shelf until at least late April. Herrera's absence doesn't look as though it'll allow Vierling to move into more of a full-time role, however, as Moniak also bats from the left side and made his case for getting a longer look in the larger portion of a platoon after supplying a 1.285 OPS thus far in Grapefruit League play. The Phillies prefer not play Bryce Harper in center field and don't have many appealing alternatives on the 40-man roster capable of playing the position, so Vierling could end up getting more opportunities against right-handed pitching if Moniak struggles early on during the regular season.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Tue 3/22/22 11:06 PM

Vierling appears to be the frontrunner to begin the season as the Phillies' primary center fielder after manager Joe Girardi acknowledged Tuesday that Odubel Herrera (oblique) likely won't be ready to play by Opening Day, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
EDGE Analysis
Before the Phillies settle on a more precise timeline for him being ready to play, Herrera is set to undergo an MRI later this week. Though Herrera said he's progressing after recently experiencing soreness on his right side while swinging the bat, Girardi said that the 30-year-old is behind schedule for Opening Day. Girardi has already dismissed Bryce Harper and Mickey Moniak being possible options in center field, so Vierling -- who had been expected to fill a short-side platoon role at the position -- now looks as though he could see regular work against both right- and left-handed pitching while Herrera is out. The skipper mentioned Adam Haseley as another candidate to help fill in for Herrera in center.

Matt Vierling
3B/OF DET
Tue 3/15/22 4:43 PM

Vierling appears likely to occupy the short side of a platoon in center field this season with Odubel Herrera, whom the Phillies signed to a one-year, $1.75 million deal Monday, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
EDGE Analysis
After Herrera became a free agent in November before the MLB lockout went into effect, Vierling found himself atop the depth chart when spring training commenced. However, given that Vierling has only 77 MLB plate appearances under his belt and wasn't a high-level producer for most of his minor-league career, he never appeared to be a strong bet to break camp in an everyday role. That being said, the Phillies are high on Vierling's potential, and he's being exposed to first base along with the outfield this spring as the team looks to find additional avenues for him to pick up at-bats. In his brief sample of MLB action in 2021, Vierling struck the ball hard (53.8 HardHit%) to prop up both his BABIP (.420) and batting average (.324), but he'll need to get more loft under his swing to generate the power he needs to profile as an everyday outfielder.