Jim Thome (back) will not return from the disabled list when he’s eligible Monday.
Thome landed on the disabled list late last month due to a lower back strain. Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. said Friday that he has begun taking some dry swings, but he’ll need to increase baseball activities before rejoining the team. It’s not clear if he’ll need a brief rehab stint.
Source: twitter.com
Jim Thome (back) is unavailable on Tuesday night.
Thome made an early exit from Saturday’s game against the Cubs after feeling back discomfort and is still trying to work his way through it. The veteran slugger has a .111/.238/.111 slash line in 12 games played.
Source: twitter.com
Jim Thome was still experiencing back discomfort Sunday after making an early exit from Saturday’s game.
“It’s no worse, and about the same as [Saturday],” the veteran slugger told reporters. It’s not clear whether he’ll be ready for Monday’s series finale against the Cubs.
Source: philly.com
Jim Thome is getting the start at first base for the Phillies Sunday.
He’s batting fifth behind Hunter Pence. The last time Thome received a start somewhere other than designated hitter was June 13, 2007. He played some first base in spring training and is expected to receive a start or two there per week while Ryan Howard (Achilles) is sidelined.
Source: twitter.com
Jim Thome woke up “a little sore” Tuesday after playing first base in a minor league game on Monday.
Not surprising given that Thome hasn’t played first base in a major league game since 2007 and hasn’t played the position regularly since his previous stint with the Phillies in 2005. The 41-year-old is slated to get some more work in during a minor league game on Thursday. “I just need to play, I need to go do it,” said Thome. “I?m excited to get back out there.” Ty Wigginton and John Mayberry Jr. figure to see most of the playing time at first base until Ryan Howard (Achilles surgery) is ready to return, but Thome could also get a start or two per week.
Source: delawareonline.com
Buster Olney of ESPN.com reports that Jim Thome focused on stretching and flexibility and also lost some weight over the offseason as he prepares to play some first base.
The Phillies would like Thome to be available to fill in some at first while Ryan Howard is recovering from Achilles surgery. We anticipate that he can be passable enough to get maybe a start there per week, but Ty Wigginton will be the primary first baseman while Howard is on the shelf. Thome will simply be a pinch-hitter for much of the year while filling the DH spot in interleague play.
Source: twitter.com
Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. told Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports.com on Friday that it’s conceivable Jim Thome could play first base as often as four or five times per month.
“Our medical people are surprised at the shape he’s in,” said Amaro. “They think he might be better now than he was when we first signed him in 2002.” Thome, 41, has played just 28 innings at first base over the last five seasons and none since 2007. John Mayberry, Jr. and Ty Wigginton should see the bulk of the playing time at the position until Ryan Howard is ready to return from Achilles’ tendon surgery.
Source: yardbarker.com
Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that Jim Thome is expected play first base “once a week at most” for the Phillies.
In other words, he’s not a real option to fill in for Ryan Howard (Achilles) at the beginning of the season. It’s not a surprise, as Thome has played just 28 total innings at first base over the last five seasons and said he hasn’t even taken grounders at the position since 2009. The 41-year-old did say that he’ll likely arrive to spring training early so that he can prepare himself to be available to play first when needed. “I looked in the mirror and said, ‘OK, I haven’t played first base, but also I like the challenge of preparing over the winter to get ready for it,’” Thome said.
Source: philly.com