Phillies place Austin Hays on 10-day injured list; Kolby Allard optioned to Lehigh Valley

PHOENIX — Austin Hays is the fourth Phillie this season to hit the injured list with a hamstring strain.

The Phillies announced on Friday that Hays was placed on the 10-day IL after injuring his left hamstring while running to first base during Wednesday’s series finale against the Dodgers. To fill Hays’ spot, outfielder Cal Stevenson was called up from Lehigh Valley.

“Cal’s played very well, [has a] .900 OPS, can play all three [outfield positions], can run, steal a base for you,” manager Rob Thomson said. “[Johan] Rojas is going to get the bulk of the time in center field, but to get him off his feet, Cal can play center, pinch hit off the bench, pinch run. And he’s left-handed. That’s the profile we’re looking for.”

Thomson said Brandon Marsh will take over the majority of the innings in left field.

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Hays sat out of Thursday’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks while awaiting test results, and Weston Wilson took over in left field. Thomson said postgame that Hays’ injury was “very similar” to Marsh’s hamstring strain earlier this season. Marsh was sidelined for 12 days.

“It’s improved each day,” Hays said. “After the game, I was pretty nervous. I could feel it walking. It was sore, tender to the touch, kind of behind the knee and in my lower hamstring. But when I woke up the next day, I was expecting it to be tighter and more sore. It actually felt better. And then today, getting up, I almost could just walk normal, not really feeling it, just doing normal everyday stuff.”

Hays said it was the first time he’s had a hamstring strain, but called it a mild injury.

“It’s really just rest it, let it calm down, and then in a few days, we’ll see how it feels,” he said. “Kind of go from there. But I’m not expecting this to be a monthlong thing. I’m expecting it to be short time. I know there’s a few guys here that have dealt with some hamstring [injuries], and this training staff has done a really good job with them, so I’m hoping I’m going to fall right in line with those guys in no time and pick back up where I left off.”

Stevenson is batting .307 with 39 RBIs and seven home runs in the minors this season. He won International League Player of the Month in July. The Phillies claimed Stevenson off waivers in May 2023.

“I think I was just making really good swing decisions [in July]. I feel like I’ve done that pretty well throughout my career,” Stevenson said. “I was getting good pitches to hit. And I was just feeling really good at the plate. It was just like one of those months where you just want to have the bat in the hands, and you’re going up there and feeling pretty good.”

Stevenson had almost as many walks (58) as strikeouts (59) this year in Lehigh Valley. He said that plate discipline has always been a feature of his game.

“I played for my dad growing up, so if I swing at bad pitches, I was going to hear it on the way home,” Stevenson said. “It’s just something I was accustomed to growing up: just swing decision stuff.”

The Phillies also announced Friday that Kolby Allard was optioned to Lehigh Valley. In a corresponding move, the Phillies selected the contract of righty reliever Max Lazar.

Thomson said the decision to send Allard down was because of Taijuan Walker’s impending return from the injured list. Walker has a planned start on Tuesday at home against the Miami Marlins. In the meantime, the Phillies want to keep Allard pitching.

“With Allard, he’s pitched great. He really has. We want to keep him stretched out,” Thomson said. “He’s not available for the next couple of days because [Thursday’s] start. So we brought up Lazar.”

Lazar posted a 1.79 ERA and 53 strikeouts across 40⅓ innings this year in double-A and triple-A. The 25-year old is set to make his major league debut.

To open spots for Stevenson and Lazar on the Phillies’ 40-man roster, first baseman Darick Hall and right-handed pitcher Max Castillo were designated for assignment.

The Baltimore Orioles signed former Phillie Jean Segura to a minor-league contract on Friday. … Aaron Nola (11-5, 3.54 ERA) is scheduled to start on Saturday against Diamondbacks right-hander and Bishop Eustace graduate Zac Gallen (9-5, 3.75). … Ranger Suárez (lower back soreness) is scheduled to throw on Sunday and will throw an extended session of live batting practice on Tuesday at home.