Categories: Phillies Nuggets with Tim Kelly

Set to return as Marlin, Jean Segura says ‘it’s just all love for Philadelphia fans’

Jean Segura spent four seasons with the Phillies. (Tim Kelly/Phillies Nation)

Jean Segura was all smiles in the visiting dugout at Citizens Bank Park before his return to Philadelphia as a member of the Miami Marlins Monday.

“It’s amazing coming here,” Segura said. “I spent the last four years in Philadelphia. The awesome run that we had last year basically made my dream come true of getting to the World Series. The type of emotion that we had during the postseason run, it’s just something that I’m never gonna forget.”

Acquired from the Seattle Mariners in December of 2018, Segura slashed .281/.337/.418 with 43 home runs, 176 RBIs and a .755 OPS in parts of four seasons with the Phillies.

For whatever trials Segura may have had with a vocal minority of fans early in his tenure with the Phillies, he’ll return to a standing ovation Monday. He’ll receive his National League Championship ring from the Phillies before the game. There’s a good chance that his ninth-inning RBI single in Game 1 of the NLWCS against the St. Louis Cardinals will be shown.

The 33-year-old seemed very much at peace with his time with the Phillies

“I really got a lot of support during my time here in Philadelphia,” Segura said. “I know when fans from Philadelphia picking on you, they stay with you your whole life. From the bottom of my heart, it’s just all love for Philadelphia fans, even though I’m now with Miami and my job is to support my team. But now I’m here, I’m going to receive my ring today and it’s just amazing, man.”

As far as hurt feelings with Segura, there are none. The Phillies are paying him $1 million in 2023, the buyout on the $17 million option that the Phillies declined. While he told Phillies Nation before the World Series that he hoped to remain with the team beyond the 2022 season, he now admits that like most, he saw the writing on the wall for most of his last campaign in red pinstripes.

“No, I wasn’t really disappointed,” Segura admitted. “I got the feeling that I wasn’t coming back. Everybody was saying that they were going to sign a shortstop on the market. And basically, it was kind of like my last year because I got that type of feeling. The option was kind of high. You know, it is what it is. It’s a business first and I understand. I’ll do whatever is best for me and my family and I thank Philadelphia for all those memories.”

Segura will bat seventh and play third base for the Marlins Monday. For all the positive vibes that surround Segura’s return, the Phillies are off to a 3-6 start. They hope he goes 0-for-4 Monday. That’s the business, even when it comes to an old friend.

Embed from Getty Images

The Nuggets

Rob Thomson was wearing a pair of Air Jordan 11’s gifted to him by Rhys Hoskins in his pregame meeting with the media Monday.
Speaking of Hoskins, he spoke to the media Monday afternoon. As outlined by Phillies Nation‘s Destiny Lugardo, Hoskins is holding out hope that he could rejoin the Phillies in the postseason.
Darick Hall told Phillies Nation that he will have surgery on his right thumb Wednesday. While it’s not the same injury, Hall will have the procedure done by the same doc as Bryce Harper used for his thumb injury, Pedro Beredjiklian. “Dr. B” is the chief of hand service at Rothman.
José Alvarado currently leads all relievers in FIP (-2.10), strikeouts (11), SIERA (-0.23) and K/9 (24.75).
Bryson Stott will lead off for the Phillies Monday. Among qualified hitters, Stott is fifth in batting average (.429) and tied for sixth with 15 hits.