Phillies add surprising new faces amid flurry of roster moves as Austin Hays hits IL
Moving Hays to the injured list was expected, but the Phillies made a handful of other moves on Friday.
The Philadelphia Phillies' roster will look quite a bit different when the team lines up for their Friday night game against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. The Phillies announced a flurry of roster moves on Friday afternoon, many of them coming as a surprise.
The Phillies are welcoming some new faces to the club, with the injured Hays going on the 10-day IL, retroactive to Aug. 8. He suffered a left hamstring strain in Wednesday's series finale against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Many expected him to hit the IL on Thursday, but the team was waiting for the results of the testing Hays had done on the leg.
Phillies add surprising new faces amid flurry of roster moves as Austin Hays hits IL
Replacing Hays on the roster is recent International Player of the Month Cal Stevenson, who had his contract selected and added to the 40-man roster.
The 27-year-old, left-handing hitting outfielder was running roughshod over Triple-A pitching for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In 91 games, he slashed .307/.420/.488 with seven home runs and 27 stolen bases. He had been playing primarily in center field this season but has plenty of experience on the corners.
The Phillies announced the following roster moves:
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) August 9, 2024
- Outfielder Austin Hays was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to 8/8) with a left hamstring strain
- Outfielder Cal Stevenson had his contract selected from triple-A Lehigh Valley
- Left-handed pitcher Kolby Allard…
The Phillies also optioned left-hander Kolby Allard back to Triple-A. He made his final start on Thursday in the series opener and picked up a win with five innings of one-run ball. Unfortunately for Allard, he was keeping the rotation spot warm for veteran Taijuan Walker, who's expected to be reinstated off the IL for Tuesday's game at home against the Miami Marlins.
Taking Allard's spot for now is right-handed reliever Max Lazar, who had his contract selected and added to the 40-man roster. Lazar, 25, has been impressive in his first season in the Phillies organization. He has a 2.40 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 30 innings of relief for the IronPigs with a 28.5 percent strikeout rate and 50 percent ground ball rate. He also threw 10 1/3 shutout innings in Double-A this season.
To make room on the 40-man roster for Stevenson and Lazar, first baseman Darick Hall and right-handed pitcher Max Castillo have been designated for assignment.
Hall hit .248/.324/.402 with 12 home runs for the IronPigs this season. He had an unsuccessful 18-game stint with the Phillies in 2023 when he slashed .167/.196/.241 in 56 plate appearances.
Castillo posted an 8.37 ERA in 43 innings over in 11 games (10 starts) in Triple-A this season.
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