Austin Hays Returns To Philadelphia Phillies Roster From Injury List

The Phillies made a move ahead of their Tuesday night matchup with the Chicago Cubs, recalling outfielder Austin Hays from his rehab assignment with triple-A Lehigh Valley and reinstated him from the 10-day injured list.

To make room for him on the 28-man roster, outfielder Cal Stevenson was optioned to the spring training complex.

Hays is back in the lineup tonight playing left field and hitting in the sixth spot in the order.

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Hays came over in a trade from the Baltimore Orioles on July 26 and has hit ..254 with six extra-base hits and five RBI in 19 games with the Phillies before being placed on the injured list with a kidney infection on Sept. 5

While at Lehigh for his rehab assignment, Hays went 2-for-9 with a walk and three runs scored with the IronPigs.

Stevenson made quite an impact during his brief time with Philadelphia, hitting .286 with three doubles, five RBI, one walk and two runs scored in 11 games for the Phillies after being recalled from Lehigh Valley on Sept. 5.

He robbed a home run in a game against the New York Mets and had a game-winning hit in the same game to help the Phillies to a victory.

It will be interesting to see if the Phillies bring Stevenson back for the postseason, potentially going with 14 position players and 12 pitchers.

As for Hays, will the Phillies use him every day in left field, will he platoon with Brandon Marsh in left field?  The Phillies only have five games left to figure that out.

Last year, Christian Pache started both Wild Card games against left-handed pitching against Miami.  Will Hays hit against lefties in the playoffs and Marsh against righties? The numbers suggest that's the best plan of action, but so the Phillies trust Johan Rojas enough to play him every day in center field.

I think platooning Hays and Marsh is the best idea with Rojas in center, giving you Hays' bat off-the-bench against lefties and Rojas' speed and defense in the lineup.