In the good 'ole days, they would've told you "not to adjust your television sets" if you witnessed Bryce Harper standing in right field in front of 6+-foot cornstalks while wearing a throwback Phillies jersey from 1939. Today’s modern television doesn’t have that problem; as long as the Wi-Fi is connected to the internet, Phillies fans can watch their favorite stars take the field for an official MLB game against the Minnesota Twins at the Field of Dreams movie site in Dyersville, Iowa.
Philadelphia and Minnesota join rare company as the fifth and sixth franchises to compete in a Field of Dreams Game at the iconic 1989 movie location.
The first contest occurred in 2021, naturally featuring the Chicago White Sox and the New York Yankees, a reference to the 1919 Black Sox scandal depicted in the film. In true Hollywood fashion, the White Sox won 9-8 on a remarkable walk-off home run off the bat of Tim Anderson. It was the 15th walk-off homer the White Sox hit against the Yankees in their history. The first one came in 1919 by Shoeless Joe Jackson. Talk about an ending fit for a movie.
The Chicago team from the North Side, the Cubs, defeated the Cincinnati Reds by a final score of 4-2 the following summer.
The movie site closed for renovations, and there were no games over the last two seasons while a new permanent 8,000-seat stadium and youth sports complex were completed in Iowa. Which brings us to the MLB’s return featuring the Phillies and the Twins tonight at 7:30 PM. The game will be carried on Netflix.
According to Phillies Nation’s Destiny Lugardo, the Phillies will be flying into Dubuque, Iowa on this morning before playing in the contests under the lights (and in front of the vegetables). Following the game, the team flies to Minneapolis, Minnesota to finish the three-game series against the Twins.
Despite a concerning exit from his prior outing against Toronto, Aaron Nola appears to be in line to receive the special start this evening. The 33-year-old righty owns a 3-9 record with a 5.47 ERA and a solid 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio (129 Ks, 43 BBs). Nola has struggled to keep the ball in the yard this season. His 29 home runs allowed thus far lead the entire league.
Minnesota’s Taj Bradley brings a 9-4 record and a 3.76 ERA into the matchup against Philly. The 25-year-old right-hander has allowed three or fewer runs in each of his last four starts, but walked away with a no-decision in each contest.
If newest Phillies folk hero Derek Hill was not acquired from the White Sox in June, he would not have a chance to appear in the special contest tonight. If the 30-year-old did not impress over his 38 games in red pinstripes, then he would not be in a position to play nearly two hours from his hometown in Des Moines, Iowa.
Hill currently owns the highest bWAR of his career with 1.6 since arriving in South Philly two months ago. He owns a .253 batting average with five home runs and 14 RBIs across 84 plate appearances. His biggest downside has been the high whiff rate (34.2 %, 32 strikeouts), an issue that has plagued the Phillies' roster all season long. Philadelphia’s 1,047 strikeouts are the third-most in the National League. That gives them an average of 8.6 strikeouts per game for the offense.
Whether or not Hill gets to officially enter the contest for the Phillies remains to be seen. The fact that he is even on the roster to compete in his home state is an addition to the script too unbelievable even for Hollywood.
