CLEARWATER, Fla. – Odubel Herrera was scratched from Tuesday’s lineup – but he's not injured or sick.
Herrera had to fly to New Orleans to visit the Venezuelan consulate in order to obtain paperwork to compete in the upcoming World Baseball Classic. Herrera will leave the Phillies within the next week to join Team Venezuela.
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He is expected back in town before the end of the day.
Phillies manager Pete Mackanin said Herrera would play left field when he returns, but only as preparation for the March tournament. Atlanta Braves outfielder Ender Inciarte (a former Phillies Rule 5 pick) is on tap to start in center field for Venezuela; Inciarte won the National League Gold Glove award this winter.
Mackanin wanted to pass on Herrera’s upcoming positional change in Grapefruit League games only as a heads-up to the media – the All-Star outfielder will be back in centerfield when he returns to Phillies camp later next month.
Pat Neshek (America), Jorge Alfaro (Colombia), and Nick Pivetta (Canada) are three others players who will leave camp within the next week to join their respective WBC teams.
Here are the lineups for this afternoon’s game at Spectrum Field in Clearwater. The Orioles seem to be testing the unofficial Grapefruit League rules of bringing at least a few starting players on Spring Training road trips. Yikes.
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