The Philadelphia Phillies are dealing with yet another injury this season.
On Friday, left fielder Austin Hays was placed on the 10-day injured list due to a hamstring strain in his left leg.
Unfortunately, this injury came just as Hays was starting to get comfortable after being traded to the Phillies from the Baltimore Orioles.
It’s been a tough season for the Phillies—this marks the fourth hamstring injury they’ve had to navigate.
Before Hays, stars like Trea Turner, Brandon Marsh, and Bryce Harper had stints on the IL due to similar injuries. Turner’s injury was the most severe, keeping him out for over six weeks, while Marsh and Harper returned more quickly.
The good news is that Hays’ injury is reported to be mild, similar to the one Marsh experienced, which sidelined him for 13 days in June. So, the Phillies are optimistic about Hays’ recovery.
According to Hays, “Getting the result of the MRI and it being very mild, it’s not going to take a long time to build back up. I’m expecting it to be a short time.” This gives the team hope that he won’t be out too long.
With Hays sidelined, the Phillies have made several roster changes to fill the gap and stay competitive.
The team called up outfielder Cal Stevenson and right-handed pitcher Max Lazar from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, adding them to the 40-man roster.
Stevenson plays center field and has had a strong season in Triple-A, with a .307 batting average and a .908 OPS. Despite batting left-handed, he’s performed well against right-handed and left-handed pitchers, making him a good option for the Phillies.
Lazar is known for his solid performances as a relief pitcher. This season, he has a 1.79 ERA and 53 strikeouts in 40⅓ innings. He was named the Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month in June for his outstanding work.
To make room for these additions, the Phillies made the tough decision to designate first baseman Darick Hall and right-handed pitcher Max Castillo for assignment.
Additionally, left-hander Kolby Allard, who had pitched effectively with a 3.46 ERA in his recent appearances, was optioned to Triple-A, as Taijuan Walker is expected to return to the rotation soon.
Before his injury, Hays was a valuable asset in the Phillies’ outfield. In his ten games, he had a .263 batting average with two doubles, one home run, and five runs scored.
Hays was helping to stabilize the left field position, which had seen many different players throughout the season.
Without Hays, Weston Wilson and Johan Rojas will likely see more playing time. Wilson, who recently had a strong game with a single, a double, and nearly a three-run double, will take on more hitting responsibilities. And the likelihood is that Rojas will focus on defense.
The timing of Hays’ injury is miserable, as he was starting to find his rhythm at the plate.
In the eight games leading up to his injury, Hays started showing his value to the Phillies, hitting .300/.323/.467.
During that stretch, he knocked in a home run, scored four times, and drove in four RBIs, which proved why the team was excited to bring him on board––he was quickly becoming a key player in their lineup.
As the Phillies deal with this latest setback, they’ll rely on their bench to keep things moving forward.
The hope is that Hays will recover quickly and return to help the team as they push for the playoffs. In the meantime, the new players will have a chance to step up and show what they can do.
