The Philadelphia Phillies are making a modest adjustment to their bullpen as they look to spark improvement heading into June.
Per Matt Gelb of The Athletic, the Phillies have designated right-handed reliever for assignment prior to their series finale against the Milwaukee Brewers. In his place, the team has called up right-hander Seth Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
José Ruiz, 30, has had a rough season out of the bullpen, recording an 8.16 ERA over 16 outings. In 14.1 innings pitched, he’s surrendered 21 hits, 14 runs (13 earned), six walks, and three home runs while striking out just 12 batters.
He showed some stability early in the year, posting a 4.76 ERA over 12 appearances through March and April. However, his performance sharply declined in May, where he allowed eight runs (seven earned) and 11 hits in just three innings across four games — resulting in a 21.00 ERA for the month. Opponents hit .579 against him in May, a drastic increase from the .244 average they held earlier in the season.
This marks Ruiz’s second season with the Phillies after joining the club in 2023, when he logged a 3.71 ERA over 52 appearances. With his DFA, the team now has a week to trade him or place him on waivers.
In contrast, the Phillies are bringing up Seth Johnson, a 26-year-old who made his MLB debut with the team last season as a starter but was transitioned to a bullpen role earlier this year in Triple-A. Johnson, acquired in the Gregory Soto trade with Baltimore along with Moises Chace, is currently ranked as the No. 12 prospect in the organization.
So far in 2024, Johnson has gone 2–2 with a 4.91 ERA over 16 appearances (four starts). As a reliever, his ERA sits at 5.52 through 12 games. Despite being new to the relief role, the Phillies are opting to see what Johnson can offer, viewing him as a more promising option than Ruiz at this point in the season.