WASHINGTON — From Kyle Schwarber’s perspective, pinch-hitting is one of the most difficult things to do in baseball.
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Derek Hill takes it one step further.
“It’s the hardest thing to do in sports,” the Phillies outfielder said.
On Wednesday night, both Schwarber and Hill were called on to do it in the ninth inning, and both delivered. Schwarber, who had been on the bench with low back tightness, drew a crucial 10-pitch walk to put the tying run aboard against the Nationals. And Hill delivered the go-ahead, two-run home run in the 5-4 win over the Washington Nationals.
After playing the unlikely hero, Hill left the Phillies clubhouse Wednesday night to see family before reporters entered, but he fielded questions pregame on Thursday about the moment.
“Obviously the guys, they fought their butts off all nine innings, so just be able to come in there and contribute was really cool,” Hill said.
Hill, who the Phillies acquired June 11 from the Chicago White Sox as outfield depth, has three pinch-hit home runs this year. He is tied with Randal Grichuk for the most in the major leagues this year.
His at-bat in the ninth inning on Wednesday was just his 21st plate appearance since arriving in Philadelphia. Entering Thursday’s game, he was hitting .333 with an .857 OPS.
When opportunities are few, how does he stay ready?
“I went through a lot of trials and tribulations over the last some-odd years,” Hill said Thursday. “Just kind of failing, succeeding here and there, and just being able to take little pieces out of the successes, and hopefully continue doing that.”
According to interim manager Don Mattingly, experience is the real key to success as a pinch-hitter. Hill has 38 pinch-hit plate appearances since debuting in the majors in 2020, including 17 this year.
“I think it’s hard. I think it’s easier for older guys that kind of know their swing, they walk up with a plan,” Mattingly said. “I think it is something that it’s always hard. Pinch-hitting is tough, because you get one shot.”
Making contributions like the one Hill did Wednesday night can certainly help a new player integrate into a clubhouse. But the 30-year-old Hill didn’t need any help in that department.
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“He’s been a good guy in our clubhouse. He’s a guy that’s prepared, he’s low maintenance, ready to go at all times,” Mattingly said. “We go look for a pinch hitter, and he’s ready with a bat in his hand, or he knows when we defend with him, and things like that.”
Added Schwarber: “He fits right in with our group.”
According to Hill, Brandon Marsh in particular has been a big help in adjusting to the Phillies so far. The outfielders already knew each other before the trade, having played together in the Arizona Fall League as prospects in 2019.
“Marshy is the man, obviously,” Hill said. “We kind of already have that camaraderie and everything like that. And he’s a high energy guy, and I like to think of myself as the same, so just kind of piggybacking off him, and trying to learn some things from him.”
Thursday night’s series finale against the Nationals marked the halfway point of the Phillies’ season. The year is far from over and things still need to be done before playoff races truly take shape.
But when they do, moments like the one Hill had Wednesday — or the other ninth-inning comeback the Phillies had the night before — might become even more significant in hindsight.
“Every single game matters,” Hill said. “At the end of the year, you’re going to look back at a couple games and be like, those are ones that got us in, or those are the ones that didn’t get us in. So to be able to keep that focus on 162 is pretty important.”
Father’s Day will hit a little differently this year for Don and Preston Mattingly. After years of working in baseball for different teams, often on opposite sides of the country, they are together with the Phillies as the first father-and-son manager-and-GM combination ever. Preston Mattingly joins Phillies Extra to discuss working with his dad, as well as the Phillies’ decision to demote Andrew Painter to the minors and their preparations for the trade deadline. Watch here.
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