By Dan Hock
April 25, 2024
Prior to today’s game against the Cincinnati Reds, the Phillies reinstated first baseman Bryce Harper from the paternity list. To make room for him on the 26-man roster, the club optioned infielder Kody Clemens to triple-A Lehigh Valley after last night’s game.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Harper, 31, enters today’s game with an active six-game hitting streak where he is slashing .381/.462/.571 with seven RBI and a 1.033 OPS. Defensively per Sports Info Solutions, Harper ranks third among major league first basemen with four Defensive Runs Saved. According to Statcast, he ranks tied for second among all first basemen with four Outs Above Average.
Originally selected first overall by the Washington Nationals in the 2010 MLB Draft, Harper signed with the Phillies as a free agent on March 2, 2019.
Clemens, 27, went 2-for-4 with three runs batted in on Monday in Cincinnati, his lone major league appearance of the season. In 16 games for the IronPigs this season, he has slashed .270/.333/.508 with four doubles, one triple, three home runs, 11 RBI and 13 runs scored. Defensively, he has made seven starts at second base, four starts in left field and two starts at third base.
Clemens was acquired by the Phillies in a trade with the Detroit Tigers on Jan. 7, 2023. He was originally selected by the Tigers in the third round of the 2018 MLB Draft.
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