Phillies reinstate Edmundo Sosa from the injured list and send Buddy Kennedy to the minors

MILWAUKEE — The Phillies have reinstated infielder Edmundo Sosa from the 10-day injured list, the team announced Tuesday.

Sosa, who had been sidelined with back spasms since Sept. 7, played two games on a rehab assignment in Lehigh Valley before rejoining the team in Milwaukee. Sosa is batting .264 with 30 RBIs, and also is a key utility piece in the infield. According to StatCast data, Sosa ranks in the 91st percentile of infielders in outs above average with six.

Sosa slotted into the starting lineup at third base on Tuesday, taking over for Alec Bohm. It was a planned rest day for Bohm, who had started three games in a row — including one rehab assignment in Lehigh Valley — after missing 14 games with a hand injury.

Bohm is 1-for-8 at the plate since being reinstated from the injured list. Manager Rob Thomson said Bohm feels fine.

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To clear space on the 28-man roster, the Phillies optioned infielder Buddy Kennedy to Lehigh Valley. Kennedy, a Millville, N.J., native and the grandson of former Phillie Don Money, was recalled by the Phillies on Sept. 6. In seven games with the big-league club this season, Kennedy is 2-for-10 with a double and two RBIs.

“He took down a couple of really big at-bats for us while he was here,” Thomson said. “He’s a great guy, and everybody just sort of connected with him, and he connected with everybody here. He’s a really professional, super person. I trust him. Was just a roster crunch, more than anything.”

Kennedy came up clutch in big spots. He drove in the tying run on Sunday against the Mets while the Citizens Bank Park crowd chanted his first name. He joined Cal Stevenson and Kody Clemens as recent triple-A call-ups who have made significant impacts for the Phillies at the plate.

“Guys get called up because of injury or for whatever reason, and they come through,” Thomson said last week. “And I think it’s a testament to our clubhouse and how our veteran guys make the younger guys or the new guys feel comfortable and needed and wanted. And they relax and just be themselves.”

Thomson said Kennedy could be “in the conversation” for a bench role on the Phillies’ postseason roster, though he cannot be recalled for 10 days, barring an injury. If the Phillies secure a first-round bye, they will compete in simulated games during the time off before the National League Divisional Series to stay sharp. Thomson said the Phillies likely would bring in some triple-A players for those games to help reinforce a competitive atmosphere.

Austin Hays didn’t travel to Milwaukee with the Phillies this week as he recovers from a kidney infection. While he was away from the team, though, the Phillies got some good news about his status.

Hays underwent more testing, which showed that the infection is gone. The outfielder also feels better. He will meet the team in New York for the series against the Mets and will participate in a full workout. The Phillies will decide next steps from there, which could include a rehab stint in Lehigh Valley this weekend.

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Tuesday was the first time that Hays felt well enough to do high-intensity running.

“A good sign today. We always felt like there was going to be one day that the antibiotics work, and he just wakes up and he’s good, and that was today,” Thomson said.

The IronPigs’ season ends Sunday, and the Phillies aren’t going to push Hays to return before he’s ready for a rehab assignment. If he isn’t able to make it to Lehigh Valley in time, the alternative would be facing pitching at Citizens Bank Park.

Catcher Aramis Garcia cleared waivers and was outrighted to Lehigh Valley. Garcia was designated for assignment on Sunday to open a spot for Bohm’s return from the injured list. ... Spencer Turnbull threw 65 pitches on Tuesday in Clearwater, Fla. The next steps are for him to throw a simulated game or possibly start a Lehigh Valley rehab assignment this weekend. ... Top prospect Andrew Painter (elbow) also threw on Tuesday, which Thomson said went “very well.” ... Aaron Nola (12-8, 3.62 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday’s series finale against Brewers righty Freddy Peralta (11-8, 3.75).