The Philadelphia Phillies have made a roster adjustment during their series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, ending an unusual stretch in which the club carried three catchers on its active roster.
With J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchán, and Garrett Stubbs all occupying roster spots, the Phillies had limited flexibility elsewhere on the bench.
Following Monday’s victory, Philadelphia placed Stubbs on the 10-day injured list due to left wrist inflammation and promoted outfielder Bryan De La Cruz from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The move opens a roster spot for an additional outfielder while addressing an injury concern behind the plate.
Stubbs had seen limited action this season, appearing in just 20 games and recording 28 at-bats. The veteran catcher struggled offensively, posting a .179 batting average and a .429 OPS, making his place on the roster increasingly uncertain even before the injury designation.
De La Cruz, meanwhile, earned his promotion after a strong stretch at Triple-A. The 29-year-old outfielder, who has previously played for the Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Atlanta Braves, delivered solid production in the minors this season.
Across 84 games, he batted .269 with an .806 OPS, 12 home runs, 56 RBIs, 19 doubles, and 44 walks.
His performance improved significantly in recent months, including a .333 average and .980 OPS in June followed by a .394 average and 1.035 OPS in July.
Although De La Cruz has struggled at times during his major league career, including a brief stint with Atlanta in 2025, the Phillies are giving him another opportunity to prove he can contribute at the highest level.
His right-handed bat could provide valuable depth against left-handed pitching, and the club will likely evaluate him closely over the coming weeks.
For a Phillies team battling for postseason positioning, the move adds roster flexibility while rewarding a player who has been one of the organization’s hottest hitters in Triple-A during the summer months.
