Adonis Medina, called up Sunday afternoon by the Phillies, will be their 10th player to make his major-league debut this season. He got the start in the Phils' series finale against the Blue Jays.
He was preceded by:
- 3B/1B Alec Bohm
- RHP Connor Brogdon
- LHP Garrett Cleavinger
- RHP Spencer Howard
- RHP Mauricio Llovera
- C Rafael Marchan
- OF Mickey Moniak
- LHP JoJo Romero
- RHP Ramon Rosso
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Six more MLB debuts for the Phillies in this unusual season than there were in 2019, when Edgar Garcia, Deivy Grullon, J.D. Hammer and Cole Irvin first appeared in the majors.
The obvious reasons why the Phillies have turned to more youth this season are the unique roster rules and the injuries they've experienced. The season began with 30-man rosters and has been at 28 since. On doubleheader days, teams are permitted a 29th man.
Rosso, for example, made the opening day 30 and has been called up as the 29th man multiple times.
Marchan is in the majors ahead of schedule because of the injury to J.T. Realmuto. The 21-year-old defensive-minded catcher provided a big offensive spark this weekend with his first home run as a pro.
MLB
Bohm and Howard would have debuted in 2020 even under normal circumstances. Brogdon, Romero and Cleavinger likely would have too given a team's typical bullpen needs throughout a season.
Bohm might win NL Rookie of the Year. He's barreled balls all summer, hitting .326/.382/.496 with 10 doubles, four homers and 21 RBI in 144 plate appearances.
His numbers have crept very close to San Diego's Jake Cronenworth, who's hit .305/.369/.523 with 15 doubles, four homers and 20 RBI in 168 plate appearances.
It's no knock on the Padres infielder, but Bohm has been more important for the Phillies than Cronenworth has been for the Padres. If you removed each rookie from each team, the Phillies would be worse than off than the Friars.
Moniak is the other one whose call-up could have been expedited by roster rules and injuries. The Phillies have been thin on outfielders the last two weeks as Jay Bruce, Roman Quinn, Adam Haseley, Scott Kingery and Kyle Garlick have all missed time.
Though, as a player who needed to be added to the 40-man roster this upcoming offseason to be protected from the Rule 5 draft, Moniak may have been up here in September anyway. He was optioned to Lehigh Valley Sunday to make room for Medina.
Brogdon looks like a viable bullpen piece. He's appeared only twice since being recalled last week but has pitched four scoreless innings, allowed one hit and struck out six.
Romero, too, looks like a keeper. He was knocked around by the Blue Jays on Friday, skewing what were effective numbers in his first nine big-league appearances.