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BRADENTON, Fla. -- During the pandemic-shortened season, Phillip Evans was a rare outlier on a club that suffered an across-the-board offensive regression.
A freak collision with Gregory Polanco in just his 11th game with the Pirates meant Evans’ offensive contributions would be short-lived. But he’s back in the mix for a spot on the bench after healing from the concussion and broken jaw that ended his previous season.
“I still had that mentality [that] nobody’s really safe in this game, so just getting through the rehab process and getting my reps,” Evans said. “I feel great going into the season and looking forward to what we can do out there.”
At the time of the injury, Evans was leading the Pirates with a .359 average, 14 hits, a .444 on-base percentage and .932 OPS. It all came within 45 plate appearances, and Evans said he felt that he was just getting into a groove when the collision took place. But with the physical limitations behind him, the 28-year-old has been a regular in Grapefruit League games this spring.
“I started off a little slower, coming off the rehab and all that,” Evans said. “That’s usually the role: short notice, get your at-bats in, don't waste any pitches up there. I’m building off the at-bats I’m able to get and looking forward to many more.”
Evans has noticed that some of the hardest things about the concussion to get past are on the mental side. He was cognizant of moments where he’s crowding the plate a bit or going back on a shallow pop up. But just getting some game action has eased his mind.
“That stuff’s behind me,” he said. “Playing every day and getting on our feet and cleats every day ... so spring’s been helping all of us getting ready for the season.”
Evans’ .273 batting average ranks seventh among Pirates with at least 20 plate appearances, and he’s among the top 10 in hits (six), RBIs (five) and on-base percentage (.414). But the club he’s trying to make is much different from the group he led just six months ago.
Kevin Newman and Adam Frazier are batting .700 and .586, respectively. Veteran Erik Gonzalez is the likely winner of a competition with Cole Tucker for a back-up middle infielder role. Todd Frazier, Evans’ former teammate with the Mets, also seems to have locked down a bench or even first base platoon role. Ke’Bryan Hayes, who took over at the position Evans played the most defensively, is likely to be the Pirates best player for years to come.
“It’s all competition in spring, but at the end of the day, just control what you can control and handle your business, be a pro and just have fun while you’re out there,” Evans said.
The 2011 15th-rounder has 21 games played in the outfield over a decade in professional baseball, including two games last season. But he feels his background as a natural middle infielder will help him gain a better sense of what’s essentially a new position in the outfield or at first base.
“If I could prepare as a shortstop/second baseman, I feel that translates to the outfield just as well,” he said. “Picking it at first to fly balls in the outfield and getting good reads, getting good jumps on this ball. If I could just be athletic throughout the season, I think I'll play pretty well at every position.”
Barring any injuries -- Todd Frazier has been day-to-day and has not appeared since being scratched from Sunday’s lineup with lower back tightness -- Evans is likely ticketed for a taxi squad when camp breaks at the end of the month. This situation will make it difficult for him to get valuable competitive at-bats while he’s facing teammates and hitting off machines. But he feels the odd situation last year prepared him for what might come in April.
“Not playing in a regular season game ... it’s tough,” he said, “If you prepare like a utility guy, bench player, double-switch guy, for everyone, especially those taxi squad guys, that’s the best spot mentally and physically you can be going into that call-up, being ready.”