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Phillies Expected to Promote Steward Berroa to Majors
By Luke Arcaini
Published:
The Phillies will reportedly make a roster move ahead of the start of the weekend series vs. the Dodgers.
Otto Kemp has been optioned to Triple-A, according to the Phillies transaction log. As a corresponding move, the Phillies are expected to call up Steward Berroa, a switch-hitting outfielder, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic.
Kemp has struggled in 2026, hitting just .080 at the plate with 0 HRs and 0 RBIs. He has not appeared in a game since May 20th, and has not logged a hit in a game with the Phillies since April 8th.
If there’s one group of Phillies that is down since the Don Mattingly era began, it’s the bench bats. They’re not playing as much, due to Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh getting more everyday reps. That can be a good thing and a bad thing. Stott and Marsh have both caught fire since Mattingly took over, which is a big impact on the lineup. But guys like Kemp, Felix Reyes, and Edmundo Sosa have seen a little less time than normal, and it’s showing.
Berroa, 26, is an outfielder that hits from both sides of the plate. He has a career .167 batting average in the major leagues, but is hitting .250/.361/.400 with Lehigh Valley since being claimed by the Phillies earlier in the year.
How much will Berroa play? Probably not a ton. But he offers speed and a bat from both sides of the plate. The Kemp/Reyes combination hasn’t worked for the Phillies, so they’re going to try something new this weekend in Los Angeles.
The story will be updated once the Phillies make the moves official.
Luke Arcaini covers the Phillies for Crossing Broad. The wave is the worst thing is sports. Follow him on Twitter @ArcainiLuke