The Philadelphia Phillies, fresh off a series win against their bitter rival Atlanta Braves, have reinstated Bryce Harper from the 10-day IL. Buddy Kennedy was designated for assignment as the corresponding move.
Bryce Harper Returns to the Phillies
Bryce Harper’s last game came on June 5th against the Toronto Blue Jays where he went 0-4 in a 9-1 loss in Rogers Centre. He was hitting just .258/.368/.446/.814 with 9 HR and 34 RBI in 213 at-bats.
The Phillies placed him on the 10-day IL with right wrist inflammation the following day prior to the series against the Miami Marlins.
The Phillies went 12-10 in that timeframe and were swept by the Pirates and Astros. His presence in the lineup adds a sense of security that, safe to say, will be welcomed back tonight against the Padres.
Otto Kemp’s Future
The Phillies keeping Otto Kemp at the major league level following Harper’s reinstatement is a good sign for his future with the club. He has a hit in six of his last nine games, including his first major league home run. He is getting into a groove and Rob Thomson has gone as far as to say he wants to find a spot for him up at the major league level. High praise for a player who hasn’t been up for long.
Where does this put him? The Phillies have options.
One option the Phillies have is putting Bryce Harper back in the outfield and keeping Kemp stationary at first. This comes with a big risk, as you don’t want Harper to do anything to his elbow.
Another option is putting Kemp in the outfield. Similarly to moving Harper into the outfield, this option forces you to move on from one of Kepler, Rojas, or Marsh. Who would get moved is all up to the Phillies, but given Kepler’s recent comments, I wouldn’t be surprised if he was the odd man out.
One final option is trading Alec Bohm and putting Kemp at third. This one is the least desirable as Bohm brings a lot of value to the Phillies. You also risk causing issues in the clubhouse.
Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
