The Philadelphia Phillies take on the Washington Nationals on Thursday to begin the 2025 Major League Baseball season. Perhaps the biggest roster battle during spring training was the final bench spot.
Multiple players were competing for that final spot, especially after Weston Wilson suffered an oblique strain in February, costing him at least six weeks to rehab. With today being the final game this spring, the Phillies decided to keep Kody Clemens as the 26th man heading into Opening Day, per The Athletic’s Matt Gelb.
Kody Clemens makes Phillies' Opening Day roster, Buddy Kennedy's future up in the air
Clemens made the Opening Day roster after batting .327 with a .900 OPS, six extra-base hits and seven RBI in 55 at-bats this spring. Cal Stevenson and Christian Arroyo were among the finalists for the final bench spot, but the decision ultimately came down to Clemens and Buddy Kennedy.
Although Kennedy didn’t make the Opening Day roster, the 26-year-old may get an opportunity elsewhere. Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said the team has drawn trade interest in Kennedy, per Gelb. If a trade fails to materialize, he’ll be designated for assignment on Thursday.
The Phillies were in a tough spot deciding who to keep between Clemens and Kennedy. Both are out of minor league options, meaning the organization couldn’t simply send either to Triple-A. Whoever didn’t make the roster, in this case, Kennedy, will be removed from the 40-man roster and be placed on waivers for other teams to claim. If he goes through waivers unclaimed and isn’t traded, the Phillies can either assign him to the minor leagues or release him.
Clemens seemed to have a leg up on Kennedy because of his stints with the team over the last two years and his spring training success. The left-handed hitter has showcased his pop at the plate and clutch gene during his time with the Phillies, including an RBI double in Game 1 of the 2024 NLDS. His versatility as a defender with being able to play virtually any position increases his value to the team.
Kennedy provided sparks of his own a season ago, including a game-tying RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning against the New York Mets on Sept. 15 as the Phillies were trying to hang on to their lead in the NL East. Kennedy went 2-for-11 in eight games with the Phillies last year and hit just .150 in 40 at-bats this spring.
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