Phillies Call-Up Four Players from Triple-A Lehigh Valley
Four players will be coming up to Philadelphia, only one of which has never played outside of the minors
As the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs playoff race is over, the Phillies have opted to bring up four players to help add down the stretch.
Returning to the Phillies will be utility-man Cody Asche, pitcher Phil Klein, and reliever Luis Garcia.
Set to make his major league debut will be pitcher Joely Rodriguez, who was acquired in the Antonio Bastardo deal with Pittsburgh.
#Phillies have recalled OF Cody Asche, RHP Luis Garcia & RHP Phil Klein from Lehigh Valley.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 10, 2016
To make room for Rodriguez on the Phillies 40-man roster, the club designated Taylor Featherston for assignment.
Additionally, INF Taylor Featherston has been designated for assignment, & LHP Joely Rodriguez had his contract selected from Lehigh Valley.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 10, 2016
Asche has played 357 major league games, all with the Phillies. Originally a third baseman, Asche was moved to left field to make room for Maikel Franco. Asche was overhyped when he arrived to the big leagues, and has a career .241 batting average.
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Phil Klein was claimed off waivers this summer from the Texas Rangers, and has made one start with the Phillies. Klein went five innings, giving up four runs and eight hits against the San Francisco Giants last month.
Klein will be an option to come out of the starting rotation when the Phillies decide to shutdown Jake Thompson or Jerad Eickhoff.
Luis Garcia has bounced between Lehigh Valley and Philadelphia since his arrival in 2013. In eight games this year, Garcia has given up seven runs off 13 hits. He has a career major league ERA of 4.18 over 117 games.
Joely Rodriguez is a 24-year-old pitcher who has spent the last eight years in the minor leagues. Originally a starter in the Pirates farm system, Rodriguez was moved to the bullpen after being traded for Antonio Bastardo.
Between Clearwater, Reading, and Lehigh Valley this season, Rodriguez has posted a 2.35 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 76.2 innings.