Cal

Stevenson

Stevenson got into five games this past season for the Phillies and has hit .178/.276/.238 with zero homers and one steal in 52 major-league contests since 2022. The 29-year-old journeyman will serve as emergency depth for the Tigers at Triple-A Toledo to open the season.

The procedural move frees up a spot on Philadelphia’s 40-man to activate starter Aaron Nola from the 60-day injured list. Stevenson got into 23 games for the Phillies over the last two seasons as a reserve outfielder.

Stevenson was up with the Phillies for roughly two weeks while Brandon Marsh was on the shelf with a hamstring injury. He’ll head back to the minors to continue serving as emergency organizational outfield depth.

Stevenson joins the Phillies ahead of Sunday’s series finale against the Marlins with Brandon Marsh (hamstring) hitting the injured list. The 28-year-old provides Philadelphia with some extra outfield depth off the bench.

The moves leave Kody Clemens and Buddy Kennedy fighting for the final spot on Philadelphia’s season-opening bench. There are some notable names here, but Stevenson, Arroyo and Mercado are merely emergency depth at this stage of their respective careers.

Stevenson, who got a couple of chances to start over Johan Rojas in center against righties last week, was 6-for-24 with six RBI in limited action for the Phillies.

Stevenson was called up in mid-August when Austin Hays went on the IL with a hamstring injury, and he’s getting called up again with Hays now on the IL with a kidney infection. Stevenson has just two hits in 12 plate appearances for the Phillies this season but is hitting .302 in 101 games at Triple-A with eight home runs and 29 steals. He figures to remain on the bench for the Phillies and can be left off fantasy radars.

Hays has been held out of the lineup the last two days and that might explain why. The 29-year-old has been a regular starter for the Phillies since coming over from Baltimore at the trade deadline, but he’s hit just .254/.275/.373 with one home run, five RBI, and seven runs scored in 19 games. Fantasy managers can do better. Cal Stevenson was called up to take his place on the active roster, and there is no timeline right now for Hays’ return.

Stevenson was recalled from Triple-A a couple of weeks ago when Austin Hays (hamstring) landed on the injured list, and now that Hays is returning on Friday he’ll return to an everyday role back there. The 27-year-old outfielder went 2-for-10 (.200) with an RBI and a 1/2 K/BB ratio during his brief stay with the big-league club.

The 27-year-old outfielder has been crushing it at Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season — slashing .307/.420/.488 with seven homers, 39 RBI, 27 stolen bases and a 59/58 K/BB ratio across 353 plate appearances. He’ll add depth to the Phillies’ outfield while Austin Hays (hamstring) is shelved.