The Philadelphia Phillies have quietly built a reputation for finding hidden gems — whether through the farm system, the big-league roster, or shrewd under-the-radar moves. But with October looming, even the smallest roster decisions carry big weight.
One of those came this week when the Phillies made a notable change to their 40-man roster. Outfielder, who joined the organization earlier this year after a stint with the Detroit Tigers, was designated for assignment.
Hicklen, 29, has only 10 games of MLB experience under his belt, including a brief appearance with Detroit earlier this season. While he flashed potential at Triple-A Toledo before landing in Philly, he never quite found consistent footing. This year at Triple-A, he slashed .224/.319/.409 across 386 plate appearances — solid depth numbers, but not enough to keep his spot with a postseason run on the horizon.
To fill the vacancy, the Phillies turned to Rafael Lantigua, whose contract was selected Tuesday. Lantigua’s promotion comes at a critical time, as he’ll provide much-needed depth with Edmundo Sosa sidelined by a groin injury.
For the Phillies, this isn’t just about shuffling pieces. It’s about maximizing every roster spot in pursuit of a deep playoff run — and Tuesday’s move underscores just how fine the margins are at this stage of the season.