The Philadelphia Phillies kicked off a six-game road trip with the first of three at Truist Park on Tuesday. They failed to take care of business against the Atlanta Braves, losing 7-5 and letting their NL East rival grab their second win of the season to move to 2-8.
While the Phillies are currently 7-3 after Tuesday’s loss, there are some pieces missing from the active roster. The Phillies avoided major injuries this spring, but saw a couple of players begin the regular season on the injured list.
On Tuesday, just a week and half into the season, we got updates on both of the Phillies' injured players: utility man Weston Wilson and left-hander Ranger Suárez.
Phillies' injured players Weston Wilson and Ranger Suárez beginning rehab assignments
The team announced that Wilson would begin his rehab assignment with the Single-A Clearwater Threshers on Tuesday night. As Lochlahn March of The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, Wilson, who's on the 10-day IL with an oblique strain, got the start in left field for the Threshers.
INF/OF Weston Wilson is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment tonight with Clearwater (A).
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) April 8, 2025
Wilson went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts in five innings in his first game action of the year.
He originally injured his oblique early in spring training, before Grapefruit League games even started. It was an unfortunate turn of events for the 30-year-old. Wilson was tabbed as an early favorite to claim the final Opening Day roster spot as a versatile right-handed hitter.
In 41 games with the Phillies in 2024, Wilson hit .284 with an .836 OPS. He hit three home runs, drove in 10 and scored 13 runs, while adding three steals. He also became just the ninth Phillies player to hit for the cycle, a feat he accomplished against the Washington Nationals on Aug. 15.
It remains to be seen what the Phillies do with Wilson once he's deemed ready to finish his rehab assignment (he’s expected to require the full 20 days). With a minor league option, he could find himself sent to Triple-A to bide his time. Kody Clemens is currently the 26th man on the active roster but doesn't have any options left, so would have to clear waivers to be sent to Lehigh Valley.
Ranger Suárez scheduled to pitch on Thursday in first rehab start
The Phillies also announced that Suárez will see his first game action since spring training this week. The lefty is scheduled to make his first rehab start on Thursday in Single-A Clearwater, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. The Phillies expect Suárez to throw three innings.
Ranger Suarez will begin a rehab assignment on Thursday with Class A Clearwater. He’ll throw three innings.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) April 8, 2025
Suárez appeared in two games in the spring before being shut down with lower back stiffness. He dealt with a similar injury last season, one that derailed what looked like a Cy Young-caliber campaign. Through his first 15 starts in 2024, Suárez went 10-1 with a 1.75 ERA, 0.89 WHIP while holding opposing hitters to a .190 average.
As Suárez’s replacement in the starting rotation, Taijuan Walker made his first appearance of the season last Thursday. The veteran impressed with a solid six-inning effort against the Colorado Rockies. Walker is scheduled to get another start in Suárez’s place on Wednesday against the Braves.
Edmundo Sosa gets his first start in the outfield
Edmundo Sosa has been invaluable for the Phillies early this season. Beginning the year in his customary bench role, Sosa's inspired play forced manager Rob Thomson's hand only 10 games into the season.
Sosa got the starting assignment in left field against the Braves on Tuesday — the first start in the outfield of his career. With the left-hander Chris Sale on the mound for Atlanta, lefty hitters Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh got the night off in favor of Sosa in left and Johan Rojas in center.
Sosa went 0-for-3 with a pair of strikeouts. But it wasn’t his bat that made headlines. He made the defensive play of the year in the first inning, when he robbed Braves’ Marcell Ozuna of a home run.
Sosa had more than earned his way into the starting lineup. In 21 plate appearances, he entered the game hitting .550 with a 1.321 OPS, with four doubles and six RBIs. He has also come up with big hits in some big moments for the Phillies.
More Phillies News from That Ball's Outta Here
manual