Phillies: Dylan Cozens comes off DL, Valentin goes on paternity leave

CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 06: Dylan Cozens #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning on June 6, 2018 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL - JUNE 06: Dylan Cozens #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies runs the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the ninth inning on June 6, 2018 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by David Banks/Getty Images)

A big bat is back on the Phillies bench, but an infielder is on leave

Phillies top power-hitting prospect Dylan Cozens has been reinstated from the 10-day disabled list after straining his left quad. To make room for Cozens on the disabled list the organization placed infielder Jesmuel Valentin on the paternity leave list.

Valentin can miss a total of three games for the birth of his child, but he leaves the Phillies with no middle infielders off the bench.

Sunday night in Washington D.C., Philadelphia will have Jorge Alfaro, Aaron Altherr, Mitch Walding, and Cozens available off the bench.

If Gabe Kapler became desperate for a middle infielder tonight, Odubel Herrera could come in from center field. He was originally a second baseman and played over 400 games there in the minor leagues with Texas before being left available in the Rule 5 Draft.

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Philadelphia has infield depth issues across their organization with injuries to J.P. Crawford and Pedro Florimon. Crawford and Florimon both suffered broken bones, Crawford in his hand and Florimon in his foot.

Additionally, every hitter on Philadelphia’s 40-man roster is either on the 25-man roster or the disabled list.

Veteran Trevor Plouffe was signed early in the season to play in Lehigh Valley, and former Nationals infielder Danny Espinosa signed a minor league deal with the team last week.

Should the organization need a middle infielder, Florimon could be moved to the 60-day disabled list to make room for Plouffe or Espinosa on the 25 and 40-man rosters.

Next: Padres interested in Franco

Philadelphia makes their season debut on Sunday Night Baseball, and their first appearance on the program since 2013, tonight at 8 p.m.