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Phillies Reinstate Bryce Harper, Designate Buddy Kennedy For Assignment

By Steve Adams | June 30, 2025 at 1:45pm CDT

The Phillies announced Monday that first baseman Bryce Harper has been reinstated from the 10-day injured list. To make room on the active roster, Philadelphia designated utilityman Buddy Kennedy for assignment.

Harper missed just under four weeks due to inflammation in his wrist. He’ll be back in the heart of the Phillies’ order starting Monday, looking to improve on a .258/.368/.446 slash. That’s quality output at the plate — 26% better than average, per wRC+ — but constitutes a “down” season relative to Harper’s lofty standards.

To his credit, Harper touted a more robust .276/.382/.470 line in late May but hit only .143/.273/.286 in eight games before landing on the injured list, so it seems his wrist had been bothering him for awhile before he finally sat down to let it heal up. Manager Rob Thomson said at the time of Harper’s IL placement that the wrist had been bothering the former NL MVP for “awhile” without specifying just how long. Harper was also plunked on the elbow by a Spencer Strider heater in the middle of the eight-game slump that preceded his IL placement and missed several games in the aftermath, so it’s likely that he was pretty banged up by the time Philadelphia pulled the trigger on an IL stint.

Kennedy, 26, has now been designated for assignment twice by the Phillies this year. He’s out of minor league options and didn’t make the club out of spring training, prompting a DFA and a quick return on a minor league deal after he briefly elected free agency. He was selected back to the majors just 11 days ago and appeared in only four games, going hitless with a walk in a small sample of eight plate appearances.

Kennedy has appeared in parts of four major league seasons between the D-backs, Tigers and Phillies, but he’s only tallied 157 plate appearances in that time. He’s a .193/.287/.296 hitter at the big league level but touts a nice .281/.391/.437 slash in nearly 1600 Triple-A plate appearances. He’s primarily played second base and third base in pro ball but does have more than 400 innings at first base and 93 innings of left field work under his belt.

The Phillies can trade or waive Kennedy at any point in the next five days. Waivers are a 48-hour process, so he’ll have a resolution on his DFA within a week’s time. If Kennedy clears waivers, he’ll have the right to reject a minor league assignment in favor of free agency.

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Philadelphia Phillies Transactions Bryce Harper Buddy Kennedy

Athletics Select Colby Thomas
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View Comments (27)
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27 Comments

  1. bumpy93

    2 weeks ago

    okay, hopefully he can get this offense going a lot more even then scoring 1 run in 3 games and scored13 runs in the next.

    2
    Reply
  2. Butter Biscuits

    2 weeks ago

    Great timing for the sadres

    Reply
  3. BEISBALL

    2 weeks ago

    Just give them the trophy already! With Harper, the Phillies are unstoppable.

    Reply
  4. cc22

    2 weeks ago

    Call up Justin Crawford

    2
    Reply
    • Pete Rose Remains

      2 weeks ago

      I am almost of the same mind on him. I have heard they want to wait and use him as trade bait and they don’t want to expose his flaws by bringing him up too soon. At the same time I would be okay with Kennedy and Kepler being shown the door sooner than later. I don’t think Rojas sticks much longer either if anybody is eventually canned and they have to make future shaping changes.

      1
      Reply
      • Captain Dunsel

        2 weeks ago

        I concur. If Crawford is not traded he should be promoted to the Show August first. Marsh can handle center, though, and Crawford may have to go to get anything worthwhile in a trade.

        Reply
      • RutgersESQ

        2 weeks ago

        his flaws? he has 1 flaw – he doesn’t hit home runs. He is a protypical leadoff hitter, something the organization has desperately needed. if they trade Crawford for a 1 year rental bullpen arm they are crazy

        3
        Reply
        • Captain Dunsel

          2 weeks ago

          Agreed. But in a deal for a reliable power-hitting outfielder, or as part of a larger deal it might be reasonable.

          Reply
        • David Kupsick

          2 weeks ago

          Ground ball machine.
          GREAT in the 1970’s with artificial turf BUT I like the idea of playing him if left field and hitting him 9th

          2
          Reply
  5. Charlie III

    2 weeks ago

    I initially read the headline as Phillies DFA Bryce Harper . . .

    Reply
  6. miggywrld

    2 weeks ago

    Bye Buddy, hope you find your dad.

    3
    Reply
    • Yankee Clipper

      2 weeks ago

      Watch out for the yellow ones, they don’t stop.

      2
      Reply
  7. longines64

    2 weeks ago

    Kepler has been a disappointment. I thought it was a good signing but he’s shown nothing at the plate. Not looking for power just get on base and/or move runners in scoring position.

    2
    Reply
    • BurnerK

      2 weeks ago

      I think they hoped Kepler would be the Temu replacement for Schwarber so they could easily let him walk. They may still have to in order to afford Suarez. They always will prioritize pitching over position players. But I don’t think Kepler was what they hoped.

      Reply
  8. njmatt82

    2 weeks ago

    I’m surprised after a month they won’t send him to AAA for a few games to get his timing down rather then bringing him up cold turkey.

    Reply
    • Pete Rose Remains

      2 weeks ago

      The majority of the team looks like it’s going through something cold turkey.

      Reply
      • Bart Harley Jarvis

        2 weeks ago

        I have to tell you, it was a truly enjoyable game to watch at a sold out CBP last evening, regardless of the type and temperature of poultry.
        Zack Wheeler pitched a gem, and the Phillies hitters got the job done mostly with small ball (along with a Nick Castellanos solo homer, for good measure).

        Reply
  9. swinging wood

    2 weeks ago

    I may have very minor dyslexia because I read this as Bryce Harper DFA’ed twice before reading it right. Wondered for a second if there was another Bryce Harper in the league.

    Reply
    • Bart Harley Jarvis

      2 weeks ago

      You might have him confused with Bruce Hooper.

      1
      Reply
      • David Kupsick

        2 weeks ago

        NO that woulf be Jed Cooper from Hang ’em, High

        2
        Reply
  10. Well said.

    2 weeks ago

    Buddy might clear waivers and become a FA and sign a minor league contract. Some teams like the Rockies might claim him. He showed me that when he was with the Tigers he can do somethings and contribute. Wouldn’t be a shock that Detroit would sign him as a non roster minor league contract player.

    Reply
    • phillies1993

      2 weeks ago

      Classic Quad A player

      Reply
  11. Yankee Clipper

    2 weeks ago

    Buddy seems like a good friend to have.

    2
    Reply
    • Mendoza Line 215

      2 weeks ago

      Quite the punster.
      I like that.

      1
      Reply
  12. FrontRowBob

    2 weeks ago

    I sort of Wish he would have sat another week. He made comments about how while it was much better, it was not fully healed.

    Reply
  13. Shackleton

    2 weeks ago

    Anyone think they’re holding off on promoting Crawford to cheat him on his service time for the future?

    Reply
    • David Kupsick

      2 weeks ago

      I’ve heard that argument regarding Otto but not Crawford…
      Simply put…IMO Crawford is just not ready

      Reply

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