The Phillies on Tuesday recalled RHP Drew Anderson from Double A Reading to fill the roster spot left from the Joaquin Benoit trade.
The 23-year-old Anderson was drafted by the Phillies in the 21st round of the 2012 MLB draft. He suffered an elbow injury in 2014 that required Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2015 season recovering.
He pitched well enough in 2016 (2.70 ERA in 70 innings at Clearwater and Lakewood) to garner a spot on the 40-man roster, protecting him from the Rule 5 draft.
Anderson has already pitched a career-high 95 2/3 pro innings this season. He's 7-4 with a 3.76 ERA in 19 games (all starts). He's recorded 78 strikeouts and 33 walks.
"After hearing that, it was time to kick it in gear," Anderson said back in February of being added to the 40-man. "I was like, 'Let's do this.'
"I've had some ups and downs, but I feel like I'm on track now."
The Phillies traded four veterans — Pat Neshek, Howie Kendrick, Jeremy Hellickson and Benoit — over the last week. General manager Matt Klentak sees the trades as not only receiving value for players who would be free agents at season's end, but also as an opportunity for young players like Anderson to get a look.
"Now we turn the page and for the last two months of the year, we get to see a lot more young players play," Klentak said Monday. "Those young players have been really playing well for the last couple of weeks, as evidenced by the sweep here (of the Braves)."