Notes: Velasquez's form, Kingery HR, Bruce

PHILADELPHIA -- Vince Velasquez pitched Tuesday like he is ready to seize a job in the Phillies’ rotation.

He pitched four-plus scoreless innings in a scrimmage at Citizens Bank Park. He allowed two hits and one walk. He struck out six.

Velasquez entered camp competing with Nick Pivetta for the No. 5 job in the rotation, behind Aaron Nola, Zack Wheeler, Jake Arrieta and Zach Eflin. The Phillies remain high on both Velasquez and Pivetta because both have remarkable stuff.

Velasquez entered Spring Training excited. He talked about pitching more at the bottom of the zone, being less predictable and being more efficient.

• Nola looks on track for Opening Day | The Sounds of Philly

Has Velasquez taken the lead for the No. 5 job, based on his Summer Camp performances?

“He’s looked really good,” Phillies manager Joe Girardi said. “I don’t think you could ignore what he’s doing.”

Velasquez flashed his cut fastball Tuesday. It impressed.

“I think it’s been a big pitch for him,” Girardi said. “It’s allowed him to use both sides of the plate. He got better as the game went on. I thought his curveball was good. He looked really good. He’s looked really good his last two outings.”

Wheeler faced 19 batters. The right-hander did not allow a run. He allowed three hits and three walks. He struck out two.

“I thought his stuff was really good tonight,” Girardi said.

Wheeler and Velasquez each threw 68 pitches.

Kingery homers in return
Scott Kingery played in his first scrimmage since missing the first few days of camp because of COVID-19. As a designated hitter, he hit an opposite-field home run against right-hander Edgar Garcia and walked. Kingery will be the DH again Wednesday.

“Each day what I’ve been encouraged about is he’s felt better,” Girardi said. “He said he feels strong. That’s a good sign.”

Bruce on the DH, playing in the field
Jay Bruce plans to play in 2020. Not just DH, but play.

“I’m definitely not resigning to the fact that I’m just going to be the DH,” Bruce said before the scrimmage. “I think there’s a chance I’ll have the lion’s share of the DH, for sure. I think that Joe probably has a plan to keep us on a rotation.

“I am definitely used to playing every day and playing the field, playing defense, being involved in the game. But I’ve tried to talk to as many guys as I’ve been able to over the years to try to understand what it takes to stay in the game [as DH], what it takes to keep a routine. I feel pretty comfortable with it.”

Bruce’s name has been attached most often to the Phillies’ DH, if for no other reason than they have Bryce Harper in right field, Andrew McCutchen in left field and Rhys Hoskins at first base. Bruce is a three-time All-Star who has started 1,375 games in his career in right field, 48 at first base and 41 in left field. Harper is going to play nearly every day in right field. Hoskins will play only first base. McCutchen will play mostly in left. Girardi said McCutchen is 100 percent healthy following left ACL surgery last summer.

• McCutchen works to create positive change

“The interesting thing that I’ve found out about Andrew McCutchen is he’s always kind of had a little hitch when he’s slowing down, even before the knee surgery,” Girardi said. “But he is 100 percent. I think sometimes it’s getting over that little bit of fear. Is it going to be all there when I need it? And he said he’s much better than he was even in the beginning of this camp. I talked to him today. He said he feels really good.”

Girardi said he does not expect one player to take the majority of plate appearances at DH. Because the Phillies will play 60 games in 66 days, he will use the DH to get players like Harper, McCutchen, Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto off their feet. Bruce could play right, left and first base, if needed.

Bruce spent much of the second half of last season on the bench because of an injured left elbow. He was working himself back in shape in Spring Training before the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of spring camp and the postponement of the start of the season until July 24.

“It feels great,” Bruce said about his elbow. “We've thrown to bases twice since we've been back in camp, and it's all gone off without a hitch. I look forward to continuing to get the arm strength back. But I really do feel like I'm in a good spot with it, so it hasn't even been a thought in my mind since we've been back here.”