Aug 15, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Weston Wilson (37) reacts after hitting a double during the eighth inning to complete the cycle against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
FLUSHING, N.Y. - Maybe when he was younger, Weston Wilson would have started to get antsy with a two-month recovery from an oblique strain.
But Wilson, now 30, knew from talking to teammates who dealt with this injury, to be absolutely certain he was healthy - and not just feeling better - before getting back on a baseball field.
"It's a weird muscle to pull because I use it for everything I do - swinging, throwing, stealing," Wilson said. "It's one of those things where I was warned by other players to make sure it's healthy before you start playing again, because it can pull (again).
"I was just trying to trust what I felt and let that lead me to where I was supposed to start going full go."
Wilson was always expected to be on the Phillies Opening Day roster, so, his recall shouldn't be considered some sort of shake up to a floundering roster. The Phillies could be 24-0 at this point instead of 13-11 and Wilson was likely going to be recalled, if ready.
The team is sorely in need of another right-handed bat on the roster, and Wilson is a guy who can play all over the field. That versatility is huge, especially against left-handed pitching, which teams tend to throw at the Phillies as often as possible.
Weston Wilson just hit for the cycle lmao pic.twitter.com/5t5ZUWgCvM
That's why on Wednesday, with the Mets sending lefty David Peterson to the hill, the Phillies inserted Wilson into the lineup in left field batting eighth.
Manager Rob Thomson said Wilson will see most of his time against lefties, and could spell a variety of players.
"Play left field maybe spell (Alec) Bohm at third base possibly," Thomson said. "I wouldn't call (left field) a platoon because he might spell (Bryson) Stott and (Max) Kepler plays left."
Wilson could even play first base on the rare Bryce Harper off day - which, when it happens, tends to come against a tough lefty.
Whatever the situation, Wilson is just happy to be here. He thought he had a great winter, so starting the season a month in wasn't part of the plan, but he takes the hand he's dealt and is playing with it.
"I got stronger through rehab and more range of motion," Wilson said. "There's always silver linings when you get injured. You got to look for those. I feel like I'm in great shape and ready to roll."
The Phillies aren't thrilled with moving out Clemens - they honestly like him and think he belongs on a Big League roster - but once the Phillies singed Kepler in the offseason - an odd fit to this lineup himself - Clemens became even less-likely to stick around long-term as the team is excessively left-handed.
Now that he's been DFA'd, the Phillies have five days to trade him or place him on waivers. If he clears waivers, he could then be reassigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but that seems like a long shot.
Thomson said Cristopher Sanchez showed up Wednesday morning and felt normal and asked to play catch.
The team was reluctant to let him do that. They feel the best path is to let him rest today and tomorrow - since tomorrow is an off day - and then consider playing catch on Friday to see how it feels.
He's not scheduled for an MRI, so there isn't a belief that this is the precursor for a more significant injury.
Thomson did say they would look to put him toward the back end of the rotation because of the two off days, so next Tuesday doesn't seem likely, but sometime the following weekend against Arizona seems more of a possibility for Sanchez's next start, assuming things don't get worse beforehand.
It's no secret that the Phillies bullpen has been in shambles to start the season, but with no real bullpen depth in the minors currently, the organization has had to stick with the eight guys they have in the pen.
That could change if an experiment the Phillies are trying in the minors turns out to be successful.
You may or may not remember Seth Johnson. He made one start last year for the Phillies as part of the rotating set of arms the Phillies tried to use to fill the No. 5 spot in the rotation. It didn't go well.
Johnson lasted just 2/3 innings in a September start in Miami. He allowed nine runs, all earned, on eight hits and three walks.
Not really a major league debut to remember.
But Johnson, who along with Phillies No. 4 prospect Moises Chace was acquired from Baltimore in the Gregory Soto trade last summer, does throw hard.
Seth Johnson worked two innings of scoreless relief tonight for Lehigh Valley, including a pair of strikeouts … He sat 94-97, T98 and generated 5 whiffs on 10 swings … He did walk two, but an interesting true relief outing nonetheless pic.twitter.com/yvbDSnvBUy
On Tuesday, he came into a game for Triple-A Lehigh Valley as a reliever. He threw two scoreless innings and didn't allow a hit. He had two walks and two strikeouts.
"It's high velocity," Thomson said of Johnson's pitching. "It's, 'can you throw strikes? Can you power the ball through the zone?' That's what they're trying to get him to do because the stuff's pretty good."
If the development guys can get him to to be more consistent with his command, Johnson could be an option later this season for the big club out of the pen.
