Phillies Notes: Moniak begins swinging, Brogdon’s velocity and free baseball

NEW YORK — Mickey Moniak (broken right hand) is clear to start taking some light swings and throws. There’s still no timetable for when he will begin taking batting practice, let alone return to action. The 23-year-old is still wearing some protection over the right hand.

If Moniak never broke his hand during his final at-bat of spring training, he would have assumed the role of the starting center fielder against right handed starting pitchers. Now with the Phillies carrying three center fielders on the 28-man roster, Moniak might just need something to fall his way to get a spot back on the roster.

“Obviously, you have to go through rehab and there’s so many things that can happen before Mickey is actually ready to go,” manager Joe Girardi said before Saturday’s game against the Mets at Citi Field.” I feel like I don’t need to think about it as much. We’ll cross that bridge when we get there.”

Herrera and Quinn, who is seen more as a pinch-run/defensive replacement player off the bench, do not have minor league options. Moniak and Vierling could be optioned to Triple A.

What’s going on with Connor Brogdon?

Connor Brogdon was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on April 13. His average fastball velocity was down to 94 mph, down from about 96 in 2021. The right hander has not allowed an earned run in four appearances for the IronPigs so far, but his velocity is still not quite where it needs to be.

“It’s been pretty similar to what it was,” Girardi said on Brogdon’s velocity. “But he has pitched in some pretty crappy weather. … He really hasn’t had a whole lot of good weather to pitch in. He’s throwing the ball well, though.”

When asked, Girardi said the team “wouldn’t hesitate” to recall Brogdon if he’s in need of an emergency arm on the big club, even if the velocity is still down.

Which Phillies games are on free TV?

All you need is a TV set and an antenna to watch Saturday’s Phillies-Mets game. The game marks the second time the Phillies will be on NBC10 in the local viewing area. In the era of cord cutting and streaming services paying for exclusive rights to broadcast games, it’s good to know that at least a handful of games are accessible for all to watch.

Here are all of the remaining Phillies games that are scheduled to be broadcasted on “free TV.”

• June 4 vs. Los Angeles Angels at 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX
• June 10 vs. Arizona Diamondbacks at 7:05 p.m. ET on NBC10
• June 15 vs. Miami Marlins at 1:05 p.m. ET on NBC10
• June 22 vs. Texas Rangers at 4:05 p.m. ET on NBC10
• July 29 vs. Pittsburgh Pirates at 7:05 p.m. ET on NBC10
• Aug. 5 vs. Washington Nationals at 7:05 p.m. ET on NBC10
• Aug. 12 vs. New York Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET on NBC10
• Aug. 13 vs. New York Mets at 7:10 p.m. ET on NBC10
• Aug. 19 vs. New York Mets at 7:05 p.m. ET on NBC10
• Aug. 20 vs. New York Mets at 7:15 p.m. ET on FOX

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