It’s not often in this day and age that a prospect surprises everyone upon his debut. That’s just what Matt Vierling did for the Phillies. Before the 2021 season, Vierling’s name would fall in the 20’s on Phillies’ prospect lists. MLB.com still ranks him the Phillies’ 24th best prospect despite his 2021 season.
In 2021, Vierling jumped through 3 levels of the Phillies system. He dominated in his Double-A Reading debut to start the season. He hit a speed bump at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Once he reached the majors, there was no looking back.
Matt Vierling: 2 hits in his first 2 Major League at-bats.
— Alex Carr (@AlexCarrMLB) June 20, 2021
He’s hitting at every level. Just a machine right now.
Matt Vierling cannot stop hitting.
— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 4, 2021
The @Phillies No. 25 prospect is 11-for-19 to start his MLB career after a game-tying RBI double. pic.twitter.com/cp2lrHVm5w
Matt Vierling's first career home run!!#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/sa1CQGXCni
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 25, 2021
All told, Vierling slashed .324/.364/.479 in 77 major league plate appearances. Vierling is mostly known as a line-drive-hitter, but those line drives came hard and fast.
Matt Vierling, a player I 100% was aware of before last night, became one of just nine players since 2015 to hit five balls 102 MPH+ in a game.
— Mike Petriello (@mike_petriello) September 1, 2021
That's seven dudes (Soto, Goldschmidt, Buxton, Devers, Cruz, Kepler, McMahon) and also, somehow, Aaron Altherr? And now: Matt Vierling. pic.twitter.com/SENfAuM4lS
Being only 1/9 players to do something, carries some weight. Outside of Aaron Altherr, all 7 other players have been quality major leaguers. Not only is Vierling the Viceroy of Exit Velo, but he showed versatility as well. In his limited playing time, he started 6 games at first, 6 in centerfield, 2 in left, and 1 in right. He also started 8 games at 3rd base in Triple-A.
At the very least, Matt Vierling can be a valuable bench piece for the Phillies in 2022. He’s on a rookie contract, so he’ll be an affordable utilityman.
Now, it’s no secret that the Phillies need both a left and centerfielder. Vierling probably won’t put up enough offensive numbers to justify him starting in left. He could be a fit for center, however. He played 200.1 innings at that position in total in 2021. He recorded 2 assists and committed no errors. According to Statcast, Vierling is in the 95th percentile in sprint speed in the majors. Covering ground would be no problem for him.
Outside of Starling Marte, the free-agent market for center fielders is noticeably weak. So unless the Phillies can pull a trade for Byron Buxton (unlikely) or Bryan Reynolds (extremely unlikely), then Vierling might be the best option for the Phillies.
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