The Phillies recalled Steward Berroa on Friday and optioned Otto Kemp to Lehigh Valley before their series opener against the Dodgers, a swap that changes the bench and puts the switch-hitting outfielder in center field against left-hander Justin Wrobleski. Justin Crawford got the day off, and Berroa was the choice to fill the opening.
For Berroa, the call-up comes after he had stolen nine bases in 38 games with Lehigh Valley and posted a.250/.361/.400 line with four homers for the IronPigs. He has 30 career major league games between the Blue Jays and Brewers, but the Phillies wanted his speed, his defense and his ability to handle all three outfield spots, especially with a lefty on the mound Friday.
The move also shows how quickly the roster can shift around a single series. The Phillies acquired Berroa from the Brewers on April 8 in exchange for cash, and he had only limited major league experience when they brought him in. Kemp, meanwhile, was sent down even though the club had just added Berroa and even though Berroa had spent much of the season in Triple-A. Don Mattingly said the fit was better for Berroa than Kemp, adding that he can run, switch-hit, defend and play a role off the bench, and that the club just wanted to give him a shot.
That role is still the question. Berroa has been used as a bench player before, and Mattingly said he has seen him in Toronto and expects energy, but the Phillies did not say how long he will stay on the big-league roster. Friday also brought another roster move, with Aaron Nola placed on the paternity list and Nolan Hoffman recalled from Triple-A, and players can remain on that list for up to three games.
For now, Berroa gets the first look, Kemp heads back to Lehigh Valley and the Phillies will see whether the speed they wanted in the outfield travels with them beyond Friday.
