Phillies Shortstop Crawford Hits the Disabled List

The Phillies had seen five players hit the disabled list prior to Sunday so far in 2018.  All of them were pitchers until now.  After leaving Saturday's game abruptly, the Phillies placed shortstop J.P. Crawford on the 10-day disabled list.  The diagnosis is a strained forearm.

To take Crawford's place on the roster, the Phillies recalled infielder Jesmuel Valentin from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  Valentin came close to making the Phillies Opening Day roster after an impressive Spring Training in which Valentin batted .295.  But with Scott Kingery making the Opening Day roster, Valentin began the season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.  In 18 games for the IronPigs, Valentin was batting .242 with two doubles, one triple and one home run.

Speaking of Kingery, he figures to get the bulk of the playing time at shortstop in Crawford's absence.  The regular at bats could be good for Kingery, who has yet to settle in at the major league level, though he has had flashes of brilliance.  The same could be said for Crawford, who will have to wait until he is healthy to settle in.

With Valentin in the major leagues, both pieces the Phillies received in exchange for starter Roberto Hernandez in August of 2014 are on the Phillies active roster.  The other is reliever Victor Arano, who has allowed just one run so far in 2018 in 10 games.