Jean Segura enjoyed ‘special’ World Series run with Phillies. He hopes for same with Marlins

In Jean Segura’s own words, his 2022 season was “something special.”

It’s easy to understand why. That season, his 11th as a big leaguer, marked the first time he made it to the playoffs. And he did more than just experience the playoffs. Segura and the Philadelphia Phillies, the No. 7 seed and final team in the National League to make the postseason, ran all the way to the World Series before eventually losing to the Houston Astros in six games.

On Monday, Segura got his token of remembrance for that postseason run before the Miami Marlins began a three-game series with the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies presented Segura with his National League Championship Series ring.

“I feel nervous already,” Segura said pregame Monday about the ceremony. “It’s great. I saw it on social media. It’s a huge ring, a beautiful ring. Just hard work, dedication. Last year, we did an awesome job. ... We stayed together and battled through to get to the postseason and get to the World Series. It’s something I’m never going to forget.”

Could an encore performance be in store with a new team? Segura certainly hopes so.

When he signed a two-year deal with the Miami Marlins in January, he did so with the intent of helping the Marlins get out of MLB’s cellar and back into playoff contention. He was one of several key additions Miami made ahead of the season along with fellow infielders Luis Arraez and Yuli Gurriel along with pitchers A.J. Puk, Matt Barnes, JT Chargois and Johnny Cueto — although the latter two are currently on the injured list.

Couple that with a new manager in Skip Schumaker who is preaching “win now” as Miami enters Year 6 of the Bruce Sherman ownership group, and Segura thinks it’s time for Miami to make a push.

“Why not?” said Segura, who has started 10 of Miami’s first 11 games at third base. “Why not us? We’re all Major League Baseball players for a reason. We’re here to compete at a high level. It doesn’t matter what team we’re facing. That’s my goal here. My goal is to do my job and get this team to the postseason and — why not? — to the World Series.”

Segura and the Phillies made it happen last season. The club fired manager Joe Girardi after a 22-29 start before turning their season around to finish 87-75, which got them the third and final NL wild card spot.

After that? Philadelphia swept the No. 3 seed Cardinals in the best-of-3 wild card series, beat the No. 2 seed Atlanta Braves 3-1 in the NL Division Series and beat the fifth-seeded San Diego Padres in five games for the NL pennant and World Series berth.

“Last year, we were the underdogs in every series and we ended up playing in the World Series,” Segura said. “You never know what’s going to happen. As soon as you make it to the playoffs, [the records] are back to zero. Any team can win.”

The Marlins this season, like the Phillies in their playoff run last season, are certainly an underdog. The National League East is a gauntlet. The Atlanta Braves, Mets and Phillies are once again contenders to make the postseason, leaving Miami as the fourth-best team in the division on paper.

Miami entered Monday’s series opener against the Phillies with a 4-6 record, dropping five of seven games against the Mets and taking two of three against the Minnesota Twins.

“It’s early in the season,” Segura said. “Hopefully we figure it out.”

JT Chargois to IL

The Marlins on Monday placed Chargois on the 15-day injured list with a right oblique strain. Chargois left Miami’s 7-2 win over the New York Mets on Sunday with the injury after facing just one batter and throwing just three pitches.

Chargois said postgame Sunday that his right lower ribcage area has been bothering him since Wednesday. The pain, he said, had been “manageable” but was “sharper than it has been” when he took the mound in the seventh inning Sunday.

The 32-year-old reliever had been fantastic until the injury, having retired all 13 batters he had faced over 4 1/3 shutout innings.

“It’s really frustrating, extremely frustrating,” Chargois said of the injury.

With Chargois sidelined, the Marlins called up right-handed pitcher George Soriano, the club’s 26th-ranked prospect according to MLB Pipeline. Soriano, 24, has not yet made his MLB debut but was added to the 40-man roster this offseason and participated in big-league spring training for the first time.

More injury updates

▪ Left-handed pitcher Steven Okert threw a scoreless inning with three strikeouts in his first rehab assignment with Triple A Jacksonville on Sunday. His next outing is scheduled for Wednesday.

▪ Right-handed pitcher Tommy Nance is scheduled to throw a 30-pitch bullpen session Tuesday in Jupiter.

▪ Right-handed pitcher Sixto Sanchez is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session Tuesday in Jupiter.

▪ Shortstop Joey Wendle remains with the team but is not participating in baseball activities.