The Philadelphia Phillies made a major organizational change by replacing manager Rob Thomson with bench coach Don Mattingly on an interim basis, then followed it up a few days later with a roster move, calling up veteran reliever Trevor Richards from Triple-A in place of Kyle Backhus.
Richards, a 32-year-old right-hander with extensive MLB experience across multiple teams, earned the promotion after a strong start in the minors following a minor-league deal and spring training stint.
Although he was briefly sent to Triple-A after allowing a few runs in spring action, he impressed with a 1.93 ERA in nine appearances for Lehigh Valley, earning another shot in the majors.
A longtime bullpen arm who has also worked as a starter earlier in his career, Richards brings years of experience from several MLB clubs and will now attempt to reestablish himself at the big-league level for a new opportunity with Philadelphia.
Meanwhile, the Phillies have opened a new chapter under Mattingly, who is already familiar with Richards from their time together with the Toronto Blue Jays, as the team continues its early-season schedule following a managerial shakeup and a strong start under the interim skipper.
