The Phillies have called up infielder Rafael Lantigua to the major league roster, with Edmundo Sosa moving to the 10-day injured list because of a right groin strain. To clear room on the 40-man roster, the team designated outfielder Brewer Hicklen for assignment.
This marks Lantigua’s first trip to the majors at age 27. The 5-foot-7 utility infielder originally signed with the Blue Jays as an amateur out of the Dominican Republic and spent his entire career in their system until last year. Despite two and a half seasons at Triple-A Buffalo, he never got the call to Toronto. After leaving as a minor league free agent last winter, he joined the Phillies on a non-roster deal and has now earned his shot in the big leagues.
The Phillies placed Lantigua with their Triple-A affiliate in Lehigh Valley, where he’s put together a .232/.359/.333 line over 491 plate appearances. While his power numbers don’t jump off the page, he’s shown a strong command of the strike zone. Lantigua walks at an impressive 15.7% rate, rarely chases pitches, and makes consistent contact, striking out just 14.3% of the time.
Defensively, he’s primarily a second baseman, logging more than 660 innings at the position this year. He’s also seen time at third base, shortstop, and even left field, showing his versatility. His glove work hasn’t gone unnoticed either Baseball America recently polled minor league managers, and Lantigua was voted the best defensive second baseman in the International League.
Rafael Lantigua’s time with the Phillies could end up being short-lived, depending on how quickly the roster gets healthy. Right now, Philadelphia is without Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, and Edmundo Sosa, which has forced them to get creative with their infield. Turner is sidelined with a Grade 1 hamstring strain and is hoping to return before the regular season wraps up. Sosa is expected to miss at least a week with his groin injury, while Bohm could be back as soon as this weekend’s series in Arizona. Once Bohm returns, it’s very possible that one of the infielders likely Lantigua or Donovan Walton will be sent back down to the minors.
For now, the Phillies are piecing things together. Bryson Stott is starting at shortstop, with Weston Wilson holding down second base and Otto Kemp at third. That leaves Lantigua and Walton available off the bench to cover multiple infield spots if needed.
On the flip side, outfielder Brewer Hicklen’s time with the organization may be coming to a close. The Phillies acquired him from the Tigers in late July in a DFA trade, but he has spent the past couple of months in Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In 32 games there, the 29-year-old has hit .218/.293/.437 with eight home runs, though strikeouts have been an issue with a rate near 32%. Across both Detroit’s and Philadelphia’s farm systems this season, he’s slashed .221/.318/.403. Hicklen did get a brief shot in the majors with Detroit back in May, going 2-for-3 with a walk and a stolen base at Coors Field. Now, he’s been designated for assignment again and will head to waivers this week, leaving his future uncertain.