It makes sense for Phillies to play Carlos Santana at third base in 2019

Carlos Santana had been playing third base for all of three weeks before he moved Sunday afternoon to his right side, reached across his body, gloved the hard-hit grounder and fired to first as his momentum carried him into foul territory.

Santana began the season as the team's everyday first baseman, a position he had been accustomed to over the last five years. But he finished his first season with the Phillies across the diamond as the team's everyday third baseman.

It would have been hard to imagine this scenario back in spring training, but six months later it is plausible to imagine Santana starting next season at third base. Rhys Hoskins has struggled in left field. The Phillies will make a push for Bryce Harper. And Santana, if moments like Sunday are any proof, can still hang at third base. Surprisingly, the move makes sense.

"I'm not surprised because I prepared," Santana said after the team's season-ending 3-1 win over Atlanta. "I prepared 100 percent, mentally, physically. We'll see what happens next year."

Santana has never been an everyday third baseman. He came up with Cleveland as a catcher, played sparingly there four years ago, and has been mostly a first baseman. Santana practically learned third base on the fly when Gabe Kapler tried him there briefly in August.

Santana turns 33 before next season and there are valid concerns that he may no longer possess the ability to play third base, but general manager Matt Klentak said Santana has the arm strength and glove work to play the position. The Phillies, once they were eliminated from playoff contention, used the final week of the season to get a closer look at Santana at third. He started the final seven games there. They will need more than a short sample, Klentak said, before drawing conclusions but the early returns were promising.

"I think we've seen him make some plays that only some third basemen make," Kapler said. "And I think we've definitely seen some flashes of a really good infielder over there. He definitely has the hands. He definitely has the feet. He definitely has the arm strength. What this means long term is a little bit more difficult for me to pinpoint."

Santana was a capable third baseman on short notice and would likely be able to improve with an entire offseason and spring training to prepare. It is far too early to be certain if Santana can be an everyday third baseman. But the Phillies at least have an option — and some confidence — of how they could fit Santana, Hoskins, and a player like Harper into the lineup next season.

"I try to prepare my body to come in strong next year," Santana said. "Nothing changes. Nothing changes. I'm taking ground balls both sides. There's nothing negative if I play third base or first base."

The Phillies drew 34,202 fans to Sunday's season finale to finish the season with 2,155,695 people attending their 80 games at Citizens Bank Park. It is their highest attendance since 2014.