Jean Segura is Philadelphia’s X-Factor and No One Realizes It
The Phillies have returned to the fall classic. It’s a sight to behold. Everyone knows who outfielder Bryce Harper is, especially after etching himself into Philadelphia lore with his dramatic, pennant-winning home run. A real underrated cog for this team, however, is second baseman Jean Segura.
Houston won’t have it easy. This Phillies lineup is deep, and they proved that against the Padres. Segura has been a staple on the team since 2019, serving as a consistent hitter and defender.
Surprisingly, after 11 years in MLB, this is Segura’s first postseason appearance ever. He played for the Angels, Brewers, Diamondbacks, and Mariners previously, yet never was on a team that had an imprint.
Sadly, this meant that Segura never secured that recognition. In his one lone season as a Diamondback in 2016, he actually received MVP votes. Segura slashed .319/.368/.499 with 102 runs scored and 20 home runs. He also led the National League in hits. He also appeared as an All-Star in 2013 and 2018.
To put this into perspective, Segura has a career average of .285 and has five seasons of batting .290 or better. Players like Segura scream the old-school phrase “if you put the ball into play good things will happen.” He doesn’t strike out a whole lot as a result, averaging only 95 a season.
Although he struggled in the National League Championship Series against the Padres, his defense was sparkling. He made plays that practically saved the series a few times. In the NLDS against the Braves, he showed what he could achieve offensively, slashing an outstanding .462/.533/.615.
X-factors persist throughout the postseason. They are the names that earn little recognition otherwise, but then show up when it matters the most. Household names are born. Jean Segura will be able to show off his talents against the Astros in the Phillies’ first trip back to the World Series since 2009.
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