The 2025 MLB playoffs are here, with Wild Card matchups already underway on Tuesday. The Philadelphia Phillies, however, have this week off after earning a first-round bye as one of the top two teams in the National League.
As they wait for their NLDS opponent, there has been much speculation about the 26-man roster they'll submit ahead of Saturday's Game 1 at Citizens Bank Park. On Tuesday, the Phillies cleared up one mystery regarding their bench for the NLDS.
Well, kind of. They didn't exactly tell us who would be included as extras for their first series of the postseason. But they did tell us who wouldn't be added to the roster. Unfortunately, manager Rob Thomson will have one less weapon at his disposal.
Phillies' bench for NLDS won't include Johan Rojas' speed and defense
Speaking to media on Tuesday, as the Phillies took the field for practice, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski revealed that outfielder Johan Rojas won't be available for the NLDS, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Rojas is recovering from a quad injury he suffered near the end of the Triple-A season.
As Zolecki notes, Rojas had been a name that had been bandied about as a possible candidate for a bench role in the NLDS, thanks to his speed and defense. That won't happen, but he could be ready to be considered for the NLCS if the Phillies advance.
Dave Dombrowski said Johan Rojas is still recovering from a quad injury. He won’t be ready for the NLDS, but they could be eligible for the NLCS.
— Todd Zolecki (@ToddZolecki) September 30, 2025
He had been a potential bench candidate because of his speed and defense.
"Rojas is here but he’s not ready to participate," Dombrowski said about his injured outfielder, per Phillies Nation's Corey Seidman. "His quad is still bothering him but we think for the next series he could be fine, so he’s going to work from a rehab perspective."
Rojas played four months with the Phillies this season before being sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after the trade deadline. He hit just .224 during his time in the majors but stole 12 bases in 14 attempts. Down with the IronPigs he hit .279 with eight steals in 35 games.
His speed off the bench in late innings could have been pivotal, and the Phillies would have had no qualms about using him as a defensive replacement in either center field or left, where he got some reps in Triple-A.
Phillies' bench options for NLDS roster narrowed down to most likely additions
If the Phillies carry 14 position players and 12 pitchers, as they have tended to do in their previous best-of-five NLDS matchups, there are four available bench spots. After accounting for infielder Edmundo Sosa and backup catcher Rafael Marchán, there's only room for two more.
Enter utility players Weston Wilson and Otto Kemp, both right-handed hitters who can play all over the field. They seem like the most obvious choice to round out the Phillies' bench.
Despite struggling this season, Wilson got into 13 games in September, hitting just .171 in 74 plate appearances. He did, however, contribute in a big way to the Phillies' NL East clinching win over the Los Angeles Dodgers back on Sept. 15. Wilson crushed a two-run home run in that wild 6-5 win.
Weston Wilson gives the @Phillies the lead!
— MLB (@MLB) September 16, 2025
They can clinch the NL East with a win tonight 👀 pic.twitter.com/UNNMwgG4yQ
On the other side of the coin, Kemp was very productive after being recalled from the minors on Sept. 8. The rookie hit .250 with a .558 slugging percentage while hitting four home runs, scoring nine and driving in 11 in just 57 plate appearances. He could very well be an under-the-radar piece that could help the Phillies go on a long October run.
We'll have to wait a few more days to see who Thomson and his coaching staff decide to add to the NLDS roster, which will be released Saturday morning ahead of Game 1.