A former first round pick of the Cincinnati Reds, Phillip Ervin tore up Spring Training to the tune of a .341 batting, 1.218 OPS and 5 home runs in 48 plate appearances. With the Reds’ offense off to a horrendous start, specifically Scott Schebler, Ervin’s time is now.
A crowded outfield of Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Jesse Winker, and Scott Schebler, paired with Michael Lorenzen’s emergence as a late inning pinch runner/center field defensive replacement, left Ervin on the outside looking in when Spring Training came to a close.