Phillies latest roster moves see fan-favorite local hero optioned to Triple-A

The Philadelphia Phillies are finally getting close to full health with less than two weeks in the regular season. With regulars like Alec Bohm, J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber banged up recently but now back in the lineup, the Phillies look more like themselves with the postseason right around the corner.

With a playoff berth, the NL East title and the No. 1 seed all tantalizingly close, the Phillies got some more good news on Tuesday ahead of their key matchup with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Phillies option fan-favorite local hero Buddy Kennedy to activate Edmundo Sosa

The team announced that reserve infielder Edmundo Sosa has been activated, as expected, from the 10-day IL. To make room for him on the 28-man roster, the Phillies optioned infielder and local hero Buddy Kennedy back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Kennedy, 26, was called up for his second stint with the Phillies on Sept. 6 when third baseman Alec Bohm hit the 10-day IL. He didn't get into a game in his first short stint in the majors in August but he made his presence felt in a big way over the past week.

The first big moment for the Millville, NJ, native came on Sept. 9 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Kennedy pinch hit in the bottom of the ninth to a chorus of "Buddy" chants and worked a two-out walk to set the stage for Kody Clemens' walk-off single. The following day, he tacked on an RBI single as part of the Phillies' eighth-inning rally.

But Kennedy's biggest moment came this past Sunday when he smacked an eighth-inning, game-tying RBI double against the New York Mets. The clutch hit sent the Phillies to the ninth in a 1-1 tie that J.T. Realmuto eventually ended with a walk-off and a crucial series win.

In seven total games (12 plate appearances) with the Phillies, Kennedy went 2-for-10 with two RBI and a run scored, with a pair of walks and a pair of strikeouts. He'll head to Triple-A to finish out the season with the IronPigs, where he has posted an impressive .295/.397/.513 slash line in 63 games.

Edmundo Sosa rejoins Phillies as infield depth

Sosa, 28, went on the IL on Sept. 8, retroactive to Sept. 7, after he felt something in his back before taking swings in the batting cage, per MLB.com. He was officially listed on the injured list with back spasms. Luckily, his back problems healed in time for him to be activated just one day over the minimum required 10-day stint.

Sosa got a couple of rehab games in Triple-A over the weekend before joining the Phillies in Milwaukee on Monday. He had nine plate appearances with the IronPigs, managing just one hit, a single, while recording one strikeout.

On the season, the backup infielder has been invaluable to the Phillies, filling in at shortstop for six weeks while Trea Turner was on the IL. He's batting .264/.319/.437 with seven home runs, 30 RBI, 35 runs scored and seven steals in 253 plate appearances.

Trending on That Ball's Outta Here