Phillies place Jhoan Duran on 15-day injured list, send Otto Kemp to Lehigh Valley
The Phillies made several roster moves following their blowout loss to the Braves, including calling up Felix Reyes. He'll make his debut in left field on Saturday.
Jhoan Duran was getting ready to potentially enter Wednesday’s game against the Chicago Cubs when he felt a twinge in his side.
It ended up being a blowout 11-2 loss, and not a game where Duran’s services would typically be required. But the Phillies’ closer hadn’t made an appearance since Saturday, so the Phillies wanted him to get some work.
But after he felt the twinge, he was shut down from pitching in the game. Following Thursday’s off day, Duran got up on the mound again and experienced the same thing. Imaging Saturday revealed a minor oblique strain in his left side, and Duran was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to Wednesday. Right-hander Seth Johnson was recalled from triple A to fill his spot.
“It’s very, very mild, so that’s a good thing,” said manager Rob Thomson.
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The Phillies are hopeful that Duran will be ready to return when the 15 days are up. He joins fellow righty relievers Jonathan Bowlan (groin) and Zach Pop (calf) on the injured list.
Duran said that he experienced an oblique injury on his right side in 2024 during spring training, but that was a Grade 2 strain. His current injury isn’t as serious, Duran said.
“Nothing strong, something really light pinched me when I [did] my rotations,” Duran said.
Duran has converted all five of his save opportunities so far this season and has a 1.35 ERA. While he is on the shelf, the bulk of the closing opportunities will go to Brad Keller, according to Thomson. The righty has a 4.70 ERA in eight appearances, five of which were in the eighth inning in a setup role.
He posted three saves with the Cubs last season.
Without their official closer, though, the Phillies also may need to mix things up depending on matchups.
The bullpen shuffle was one of several roster moves the Phillies made ahead of Saturday night’s game against the Atlanta Braves. The team entered Saturday on a three-game losing streak, and had dropped each game by a margin of six runs or more.
Otto Kemp was optioned to triple-A Lehigh Valley and Felix Reyes was called up to make his major league debut in left field against Atlanta lefty Chris Sale. Reyes, 25, impressed as a non-roster invitee to major league spring training this year, hitting .303 with a .930 OPS in 18 games.
To clear a spot on the 40-man roster for Reyes, outfielder Pedro Leon was released.
Reyes continued to show his right-handed power in the first 18 games of the season in triple A, and has hit six homers. Against lefties, he is batting .300.
Reyes is primarily an outfielder, but he also has experience at first base. Thomson said it’s possible that on occasion, Kyle Schwarber could see time in left field, allowing Bryce Harper to slide to designated hitter, and Reyes to play first. Reyes could also appear as the designated hitter.
The Phillies optioned Kemp to give him an opportunity for more consistent at-bats. He is 2-for-20 this season.
Extra bases
The Phillies’ pitching staff went through extensive pitchers’ fielding practice drills ahead of Saturday’s game against Atlanta. ... Zack Wheeler (thoracic outlet decompression surgery) is scheduled to make a rehab start Sunday for double-A Reading and throw 90 pitches. ... Andrew Painter (1-0, 3.77 ERA) is scheduled to start Sunday’s series finale against Atlanta right-hander Grant Holmes (1-1, 3.32 ERA).
Gage Wood might have pitched the best game in college baseball history 10 months ago. Now, with Andrew Painter in the majors, Wood is the Phillies’ top pitching prospect. The 22-year-old righty joins Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss his strong start to the season. Watch here.
You can also subscribe to the podcast version of Phillies Extra on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.
Previous episodes: Scott Boras | Brian Barber | Aaron Nola | Justin Crawford | Garrett Stubbs | Kyle Schwarber | Brad Keller | J.T.Realmuto | Orion Kerkering | Whit Merrifield