Jean Segura, Dominican Republic, Philadelphia Phillies
11am October 27th 2022, Matthew Tallarini, Chief Correspondent WORLD BASEBALL NETWORK
Jean Segura, born in San Juan, Dominican Republic, is playing in his ninth major league season. Being a two-time All-Star during his major league career, Segura has played a massive role in the Phillies’ turnaround season. He is completing his fourth season with the Philadelphia ball club Segura batting .277, with ten home runs, 33 runs batted in, and playing 98 games for the 2022 National League Champion Phillies.
Segura first came onto the scene in 2007 when the Los Angeles Angels signed him during the international signing period. He made his professional debut for the Angels in the Dominican Summer Rookie League, where he batted .324, with two home runs, and 31 runs batted in 61 games. The following season Segura would only play 11 games for the Angels after fracturing his left leg at the Arizona Rookie League level. Segura would begin to progress after his leg injury putting up high offensive numbers during Arizona Rookie League with the Orem Owlz and then playing in just five games at the AAA level for the Salt Lake Bees during the 2009 season. Segura would be accustomed to hitting high-level pitching for the next few seasons. Segura would get a chance to excel in the Dominican Winter League, where he won the league’s batting title with a .324 average, putting out two home runs, driving in 21 runs, and was second in stolen bases with 11 during the 2012-2013 season. A few months before progressing during the winter league season, Segura made his major league debut with the Los Angeles Angels. He was then traded to the Milwaukee Brewers in the middle of the 2012 season. Segura won the 2013 opening day starting shortstop for the Brewers out of spring training. Later that season, he was named a reserve player for the National League in the 2013 MLB All-Star Game. He finished his first full major league season batting .294, with ten triples (2nd in the National League), 12 home runs, and 49 runs batted in for the Brewers.
During his major league career, Segura bounced around playing with the Diamondbacks and Mariners, putting up quality numbers before arriving with the Phillies in 2019. The Seattle Mariners acquired Segura in a four-player trade with the Philadelphia Phillies, which sent players Juan Nicasio and James Pazos in a package deal with Carlos Santana and J.P. Crawford going to Seattle. During his first season with the Phillies, Segura batted .280, with 12 home runs, and driving in 60 runs. Segura has made his mark during the postseason having a key at-bat in game three of the National League Championship Series, uplifting the Philadelphia crowd with a two-run single in the fourth inning, giving the ball club momentum to win the pennant in five games. Segura looks to help Philadelphia win its third World Series in its franchise history and the first since 2008.
