The Phillies called up Felix Reyes on Saturday night ahead of their game against the Atlanta Braves, planning to put the 25-year-old outfielder in left field against left-hander Chris Sale for what would be his major league debut. The roster move came the same day the club placed closer Jhoan Duran on the 15-day injured list with a minor oblique strain in his left side.
Reyes arrives after a strong start at Triple A, where he hit six home runs in his first 18 games and was batting.300 against left-handed pitching. He also put up a.303 average and a.930 OPS in 18 games during major league spring training, a stretch that helped put him on the club’s radar as a non-roster invitee. Reyes is primarily an outfielder, but he has also played first base.
Duran’s injury became public only after he felt a twinge in his side while getting ready to potentially enter Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs. He felt the same issue again after Thursday’s off day when he got back on the mound, and imaging on Saturday showed the strain. Duran said the problem was not severe, describing it as a very light pinch during his rotations, while manager Rob Thomson said it was very mild, which the club viewed as a positive sign.
Even a mild oblique issue matters because Duran had been the Phillies’ closer and had converted all five of his save chances this season while posting a 1.35 ERA. The bullpen now shifts toward Brad Keller for most closing opportunities, though Keller has a 4.70 ERA in eight appearances. The Phillies also recalled Seth Johnson from Triple A to fill Duran’s roster spot.
The move on Reyes also forced another shuffle. Otto Kemp was optioned to Triple A Lehigh Valley after going 2-for-20 this season, and Pedro Leon was released to clear room on the 40-man roster. The Phillies said Kemp was sent down to give him a chance to get more consistent at-bats, but the immediate pressure is on a club that entered Saturday on a 3-0 losing streak after dropping three games by six runs or more, including an 11-2 loss.
That is the part of the day that makes the Reyes call more than a simple debut story. The Phillies are trying to steady both their lineup and their bullpen at once, and they are doing it while carrying injuries to relievers Jonathan Bowlan and Zach Pop. Reyes gives them a left-handed matchup bat against Sale and a fresh look in the outfield, while the late-inning picture now leans on Keller until Duran is ready again.
