Phillies activate three including Lee, Gwynn DFA’d
May 26, 2014; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Tony Gwynn (19) in a game against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park. The Phillies won 9-0. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
On Monday the Phillies activated Cliff Lee as expected, but he was joined off the disabled list by infielder Reid Brignac and catcher Wil Nieves.
Tony Gwynn, Jr., who took time off last month for the passing of his father Tony Gwynn, Sr., was designated for assignment to make room on the Phillies roster. Koyie Hill was also taken off the 40-man roster and infielder Cesar Hernandez was sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Gwynn had a batting average of .163 with only 16 hits in 98 at bats this season. Before the Phillies, the outfielder spent time with the Milwaukee Brewers, San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers. He can be claimed off waivers by another team if the Phillies choose not to trade, release or send him back to the minor leagues.
Hill played in only ten games with the Phillies. He had five hits and one run batted in during that time, but was really only called up after Nieves and Carlos Ruiz both went down with injuries.
Hernandez could be one of the Phillies more consistent call ups should injuries arise in the future. He first saw major league action last season with the club. In 26 games with Double-A Reading this year he had a .340 batting average with an .896 OPS, although he has now been sent to Triple-A this time around.
As for those returning, the big story for some time now has been Cliff Lee’s return Monday after an elbow injury kept him out. Lee started a major league game for the first time in two months against the San Francisco Giants. He went 5.2 innings and gave up six runs off twelve hits, bringing his ERA to 3.67.
Brignac figures to be an infield utility man for the Phillies while Nieves will look to be behind the plate before Carlos Ruiz returns. A return for Ruiz could also happen some time this week.