The Phillies announced Tuesday that they’ve selected the contract of lefty Jeff Singer from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Righty Corey Knebel has been placed on the Covid-related injured list in a corresponding move. The Phils also sent outfielder Odubel Herrera on a rehab assignment with High-A Clearwater.
Singer, 28, has tossed four shutout innings so far for the IronPigs in 2022, though he’s also yielded four walks against just a pair of strikeouts. The Philadelphia native spent the 2021 season in Triple-A as well, pitching to a 4.75 ERA with a 28.2% strikeout rate against a 10.9% walk rate. He’s kept his strikeout rate in the 27-29% range over the past several minor league seasons, albeit without particularly strong walk rates. The Phillies already have five lefties in the bullpen — Jose Alvarado, Brad Hand, Damon Jones, Bailey Falter and Cristopher Sanchez — but Singer will give manager Joe Girardi another option while Knebel is sidelined.
The Phils didn’t specify whether Knebel tested positive for Covid-19, although he did have flu-like symptoms yesterday (Twitter link via Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer). Still, players can be placed on the Covid-related IL (and thus temporarily removed from the 40-man roster) in the event that they display symptoms or are deemed a close contact of someone known to have tested positive. It’s not clear at this time how long Knebel will be away from the club.
JEFF!
Brad is a better singer than JEFF!
So Singer is sewing up a roster spot?
Monkey’s Uncle – you certainly dated yourself with that joke! Good one, though. 🙂
How many lefties do you need in a bullpen?
28
Eleventyseven.
Hey, is this one of those “how many (insert inappropriate nationality) does it take to screw in a lightbulb” joke’s? (three – one to hold the bulb & two to turn the chair)
UDFA local kid, so I’m happy he’s getting his opportunity to pitch for his hometown team, but I don’t expect much. I’d imagine they just wanted to call up someone who they could send outright immediately after Knebel’s back and still retain them. Bedrosian would be able to elect free agency and there are no other 40-man relief options.. This kid got killed in camp and has a 5.34 ERA for his AAA Career.
He’ll get to finally play for his hometown team only to get shelled and booed back down to the minors.
I don’t think the Phillies offense can overcome this guy
*SCRANTON SHEEP
48……………..
You seem to be fixated on barnyard animals and wildlife in general. Is there something you want to tell us?
It’s quite possible that the Mets, Phillies and Nationals are all farm-level teams at this point.
Hmmm. Nats handled the Braves pretty well.
Yes…but it was only one game in April. Also, they roughed up a starter who broke his hand punching the dugout bench in Milwaukee.
” farm-level teams ”
I seem to remember similar that statements were uttered about the Braves last year. I guess we will see in Oct.
@Cat Mando
The Braves have won the division every year since 2018. They lost Acuna, Ozuna, Soroka AND d’Arnaud and somehow still stayed in the division race until the trade deadline. That’s because the rest of the division sucks. Then the Braves filled the holes on their roster and played the way they’re capable of.
Gee 48…what would we do without historian such as yourself? We would surely be lost.
I get it. And no one is disrespecting the Braves who have owned the NLE for most of my fandom, but the minor league jokes are getting a little old, and it’s sort of a bad look immediately after getting spanked by one of the worst teams in the NL.
@VonPurpleHayes
If it’s any consolation, I do have the Phillies (aka Scranton Sheep) finishing second in the division.
I agree that Atlanta needs to win these next two games though.
Braves will finish 3rd imo
@DarkSide830
That’s possible if the Mets and Phillies both win over 90 games but to this point they haven’t even proven that they can win 85.
If I had to guess, I would say the Braves improve by four to six wins, which would put them at 92-94 wins. That doesn’t guarantee postseason success though.
Clearwater is not High-A anymore, it’s just A
I believe the Florida State League (which thankfully reverted to the FSL this season) is now considered a Low A team. The minors are now AAA, AA, High A, and Low A, not counting the Developmental Leagues.
A moment of silence for the Florida Fire Frogs