It will be a sight for sore eyes when Austin Hays finally gets back on the field tonight at Citizens Bank Park. After three weeks on the injured list with a scary kidney infection, the Philadelphia Phillies outfielder is ready to go.
Hays could be seen during Monday's NL East clinch celebration, but seemed to be taking it easy, no doubt being careful before his return to action after not having seen an MLB game since early September.
Phillies announce long-awaited roster moves before Tuesday's game to activate Austin Hays from IL
The team announced that Hays, 29, has been activated ahead of Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs. The corresponding roster move sees outfielder Cal Stevenson removed from the 28-man roster and optioned to the team's spring training complex.
Prior to tonight’s game against the Chicago Cubs, the Phillies returned OF Austin Hays from his rehab assignment with Lehigh Valley (AAA) and reinstated him from the 10-day IL. To make room on the 28-man roster, OF Cal Stevenson was optioned to the spring training complex.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 24, 2024
Hays was the Phillies' lone position player acquisition at the trade deadline but has had a hard time staying in the lineup due to a couple of stints on the injured list. The Phillies hoped that the former Baltimore Oriole and 2023 All-Star would slot in as their everyday left fielder down the stretch. Unfortunately, he has only appeared in 19 games thus far.
In 69 plate appearances, the right-handing hitting Hays is batting .254/.275/.373 with a home run, five RBI, seven runs scored and a pair of steals. He hit .270 with a .695 OPS in his first nine games before landing on the IL with a hamstring strain. He hit .233 with a .591 OPS in 10 games after returning before being sidelined with a kidney infection on Sept. 2.
Hays' timeline to return was murky until just recently, when he turned a corner in his recovery and started feeling like himself again.
Stevenson, 28, appeared in 11 games after being recalled to replace Hays on the active roster. He hit a solid .286 with an .833 OPS in 15 plate appearances and had a pair of late-inning game-winning hits and a spectacular home run robbery over the course of the last two weeks. Overall with the Phillies this season, Stevenson is slashing .250/.333/.375 in 27 plate appearances and remains in the mix for a possible spot on the postseason roster.