Daniel Nava has given the Phillies a surprising boost
The Phillies are in a youth movement, but 34-year-old Daniel Nava has forced his way into the lineup. He started his fifth straight game on Thursday.
For most of the season, Phillies manager Pete Mackanin has been at his wits' end watching his offense struggle for any type of sustained consistency. The Phillies entered Thursday's game against the visiting Boston Red Sox 13th in the National League in runs with 253.
The Phillies are in a youthful rebuilding phase, but the team has been so starved for offense that Mackanin is leaning heavily on 34-year-old Daniel Nava.
The switch-hitter who was signed in the offseason as a minor-league free agent, is the Phillies' second leading hitter among position players. After Thursday's 1-0 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox, Nava was hitting .310, second to another old-timer, 33-year-old Howie Kendrick (.330).
Nava made his fifth consecutive start on Thursday. In those games he is 7 for 22 with one home run.
The Phillies would like the at-bats to go to younger players, but Nava has forced his way into Mackanin's lineup.
"I am going to use him as much as I can to try to get as much offense as I can at this point," Mackanin said before the game. "He has done a great job so far for us."
Nava broke into the big leagues at the age of 27 in 2010 with the Boston Red Sox. He was a key part of the Red Sox's run to the title in 2013, hitting .303 with 12 home runs, 66 RBIs, and an .831 OPS in 536 plate appearances.
Since then he has suffered some injuries and has yet to approach the 2013 level until this season. It's still a small sample size. He now has 102 plate appearances.
"The last couple of years he has dealt with some injuries to the knee and some other things," Red Sox manager John Farrell said. "He looks healthy right now the way he is swinging the bat."
Farrell admires the perseverance of Nava. "There have been many times where Daniel has been the only one who has believed in him," he said.
While he's in there for his bat, Nava provided a defensive gem on Thursday. In the fifth inning, Mookie Betts hit a two-out single to left, but Nava gunned down catcher Sandy Leon at the plate.
Nava may be playing so well that a contender looking for outfield depth might look his way at the non-waiver trade deadline on July 31.
"He has had some a pretty good year and has hit .300," Mackanin said. "He gives you good at-bats from both sides of the plate and he is a better defensive player than I thought he was. He gives you good at-bats and has solid makeup and I like watching him play."