The first wave of September call-ups have been made for the Phillies
The Phillies have called up three familiar names from Triple-A Lehigh Valley and activated three players from the disabled list.
Every player on the Phillies 40-man roster has been in the major leagues at some point this season, so don’t expect a big name prospect to arrive for their major league debut.
Here are the players activated by the big league club and the one who will remain in Lehigh Valley for the forseable future.
Called Up: Aaron Altherr, Yacksel Rios, Dylan Cozens
Activated from the disabled list: Pedro Florimon, Edubray Ramos, Austin Davis
Designated for assignment: Jesmuel Valentin
Jayson Stark of The Athletic has said the Phillies could easily carry 20 pitchers in September to keep the relievers fresh down the stretch. With Ramos, Davis, and Rios activated the Phillies have 11 relievers and five starters, but more help will come soon.
Once the Iron Pigs are done with their season the Phillies will call up more arms for the final two weeks of the season. The front office wants the core in Lehigh Valley to win together and hopefully bring that attitude to the big leagues down the road.
Jerad Eickhoff is a name to watch once he’s healthy after suffering a lat strain and dealing with tingling in his pitching fingers. A member of the starting rotation for three years, Eickhoff will likely go to the bullpen as a long-man.
Lehigh Valley has four pitchers on the 40-man roster who could be called up when their minor league season is over: Enyel De Los Santos, Ranger Suarez, Drew Anderson, and Ben Lively. All four have started in the big leagues this year at least once, bu Anderson and Lively might project better in the bullpen long-term.
Catcher Andrew Knapp and shortstop J.P. Crawford are two infielders who are likely to return at some point this month after starting the season with Philadelphia.