The Phillies signed Laynce Nix to a two-year deal in the first week of December to provide bench and outfield depth and to use his raw power against right-handed pitching.
The 31-year-old lefty batted .263 with a .475 slugging percentage and hit all 16 of his homers last season against opposite-handed pitching, so it seemed natural to plug him into a role in which he was comfortable and could succeed.
But Nix has spent the spring trying to add to his repertoire, and one way he is hoping to see more time on the field is to figure out first base.
Im glad Charlie Manuel is throwing me out there, I want to play some games and get comfortable in case the chance arises, Nix told Comcast SportsNet Wednesday.
I want to be able to contribute there. Spring training is a good time to be able to do that.
Nix has played 3,627 innings in the field in his nine-year career, and only 47 (or 1.3 percent) have come at first base.
If Ty Wigginton struggles against right-handed pitching while Ryan Howard recovers from off-season Achilles surgery and the Jim Thome fielding experiment doesnt work out, Nix could see some action at first base.
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Seeing the game from this angle over here, its quite different from being in the outfield where everything is in front of you, Nix said. But Ive enjoyed it and I like doing the work, so you never know, I might be in there a little bit.
E-mail Corey Seidman at cseidman@comcastsportsnet.com.