Phillies Predicted To Cut Ties With Versatile 30-Year-Old Despite Recent Surge
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
The Philadelphia Phillies are primed for a World Series push this season. They have as much talent as ever, with Kyle Schwarber leading the way on offense and Zack Wheeler leading the pitching staff.
With a few injured stars set to return from the injured list in the near future, the Phillies could have a bit of a roster crunch in the coming weeks.
FanSided's Zachary Rotman recently predicted the Phillies would cut ties with (or potentially option) veteran utilityman Weston Wilson when Alec Bohm returns from injury.
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 11: Weston Wilson #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits an RBI double during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 11, 2025 in Cincinnati,...
CINCINNATI, OHIO - AUGUST 11: Weston Wilson #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits an RBI double during the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park on August 11, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. Edmundo Sosa #33 of the Philadelphia Phillies scores. More"Bohm will be the team's everyday third baseman when he returns, thus creating a platoon at second base with Edmundo Sosa and Bryson Stott, and creating a competition for who will platoon with Max Kepler in left field," Rotman wrote. "Both Otto Kemp and Weston Wilson have spent time in that role this season, and while Wilson has performed well since his recall after the All-Star break, it'd be tough for them to send Kemp back down to Triple-A.
"Kemp's overall numbers might not be stellar, but he's slashing .268/.362/.463 with two of his four big league home runs against southpaws this season. His .825 OPS against lefties suggests he'd be an ideal platoon partner with Kepler, and Wilson simply hasn't outperformed him this season."
It's more likely that the Phillies will option Wilson rather than designate him for assignment or release him.
Still, Otto Kemp makes slightly more sense as a platoon option with Max Kepler, so it's more like the Phillies will keep Kemp rather than Wilson on the roster.
It's going to be a tough decision to make, especially since Wilson has played well recently. If he can stay hot for the next few days, there's a chance it's Kemp who's demoted instead.
More MLB: Phillies Predicted To Demote Young Pitcher When Jose Alvarado Returns
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
San Francisco Chronicle
20 minutes ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
Alone and 2,200 miles from home, Venezuela shuts out Puerto Rico 5-0 at Little League World Series
SOUTH WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. (AP) — Hitting with the bases loaded at the Little League World Series, Samuel Castillo found the gap between left and center field. Two runs scored and Venezuela's lead over Puerto Rico grew to 3-0. Above the team dugout, spectators in a fan section that barely filled three rows raised one of the few Venezuelan flags in Volunteer Stadium. It took a lot for Venezuela to get here, but on Wednesday, its team made the playing baseball part of the journey look easy. Cardenales Little League from Barquisimeto went on to shut out Puerto Rico 5-0. Cardenales won all five of its regional tournament games, outscoring opponents 46-6 to become the Latin America representative to the LLWS. But in the wake of President Donald Trump's travel bans and restrictions affecting 19 countries, the team needed a special exemption from the U.S. State Department and a sign-off from Secretary of State Marco Rubio after visas were initially denied. Venezuela's senior team, players who are up to 16 years old, which was supposed to compete in Easley, South Carolina, last month was unable to get the exemption and was denied entry to the United States. 'They were working their way through applying for the exemption,' Little League President and CEO Patrick Wilson said in a news conference before Wednesday's game. 'We ran out of time, just candidly.' Wilson said there were close to 10 days for Venezuela's Williamsport team to get approved, which was 'more lead time' than the senior team. They were notified of the approval last Thursday. This isn't the first time visa snarls have been an issue at the tournament. In 2011, Uganda's visa applications were denied and Saudi Arabia, the regional runner-up, played instead. 'We'll do our best to have conversations with the great folks at the State Department that help us out in an effort to, whether we have to adjust lead times or whatever we can do, to ensure that all teams can participate and enjoy the Little League experience, whether that's at the Little League level, junior, senior, softball, whatever it takes,' Wilson said. Venezuelan players traveled to the United States without their families — parents couldn't get visas — but the coaches of last year's team that made it to the international final were among the few fans from back home sitting proudly in the stands above the dugout. Euclides and Ender Rivero only had to renew their visas which, they explained through an interpreter, was a much easier process. Maria Lewis sat just a few seats away from the Riveros holding one of the country's flags and wearing the Latin America team shirt. She's Venezuelan and lives only an hour away from Williamsport. 'I've been praying for them to come,' Lewis said. 'I'm very pleased that (their visas were) granted, because these are 12-year-olds that deserve to play their game.' 'I'm just here like a team mom, honorary team mom, so that they can feel supported, that they have people behind them,' Lewis said. Manager Luis Bermudez said the team has been keeping in touch with those 2,204 miles (3,547 kilometers) away in Barquisimeto through their smartphones, and he's grateful to the fans Venezuela did have in the stands. 'We're very happy we have all their support,' he said through an interpreter. On Friday, Venezuela will play Canada. 'I'm so happy to be here,' Francisco Rivero, who scored twice on Wednesday, said after the win. 'It's a great feeling.' Another girl takes the field at LLWS Monica Arcuri became the 24th girl to play in the Little League World Series on Wednesday when her Australia club played Panama. She started at first and rounded out the lineup for the team from Brisbane. This tournament also features the fifth female coach and a female umpire, Traci Duez, who was at second base for the Panama-Australia game. The Little League Softball World Series concluded last week with record viewership. 'For a young lady whether she chooses to play softball or baseball, we want her to have those choices, you know, and if she switches at a certain point, that's OK, too,' Wilson said. 'We just want her to participate.' ___
Chicago Tribune
20 minutes ago
- Chicago Tribune
Clarendon Hills falls 16-1 in opening game of Little League World Series tournament
Clarendon Hills never really got going Wednesday and lost 16-1 to the Mountain Region champion from Las Vegas, Nevada, in the opening round of the Little League World Series in Williamsport, Pennsylvania. The game didn't get completely out of hand until the top of the sixth inning when the Nevada state champion scored 11 runs while sending 16 batters to the plate. After giving up a run in the top of the first, Clarendon Hills, the Great Lakes Region champion, had its best scoring chance of the game in the bottom half of the opening frame when it loaded the bases with one out on a hit batter, a walk and an error. But Nevada pitcher Garrett Gallegos struck out consecutive Clarendon Hills hitters to get out the inning without any damage. Nevada added four runs on five hits in the second inning as Clarendon Hills starting pitcher Luke Schaller gave way to Brody Herold along the way. Neither team scored again until the top of the sixth. Clarendon Hills avoided the shutout in the bottom of that final inning when Herold singled and eventually scored on an obstruction call on the Nevada third baseman. Clarendon Hills isn't scheduled to play again until 6 p.m. Saturday in the elimination bracket. The Clarendon Hills vs Nevada game was the first United States contest in the 2025 Little League World Series, which runs through Aug. 24 and includes 10 teams from different regions of the United States along with 10 from other countries. Along with Clarendon Hills and Nevada, U.S. teams regional tournament winners include teams from Fairfield, Connecticut (Metro); Uwchlan Township, Pennsylvania (Mid-Atlantic); Sioux Falls, South Dakota (Midwest); Braintree, Massachusetts (New England); Bonney Lake, Washington (Northwest); Irmo, South Carolina (Southeast); Richmond, Texas (Southwest); and Honolulu, Hawaii (West). International teams are from Taipei, Chinese Taipei (Asia-Pacific); Brisbane, Queensland (Australia); Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada); Santa Cruz, Aruba (Caribbean); Brno, Czechia (Europe-Africa); Tokyo (Japan); Barquisimeto, Venezuela (Latin America); Chihuahua (Mexico); Arraijan (Panama); and Yabucoa (Puerto Rico). The U.S. championship game is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. Aug. 23, following the International championship at 11:30 a.m. The World Series championship contest, pitting the U.S. and International champions, is at 2 p.m. Aug, 24. All three championship games will be broadcast on ABC. Earlier-round games are being shown on ESPN. A year ago, Clarendon Hills' neighboring village Hinsdale made its first trip to the Little League World Series, but was eliminated with shutout losses in its first two games, to teams from the West and Metro regions. In the leadup to this year's World Series tournament, Clarendon Hills had a dominating, 6-0, record in winning the Illinois State championship while outscoring opponents 60-7. But the double-elimination format proved very important in claiming both the District and Great Lakes titles. A loss to Naperville Continental in the District round put Clarendon Hills on the brink of elimination, but the same teams met in the July 13 championship, and Clarendon Hills came out on top, 8-2. Herold said the confidence boost his team got from beating Naperville Continental after losing to the same team earlier in the tournament was a factor after Clarendon Hills lost 11-1 Aug. 4 to the state champion from Ohio. A 5-2 win over Kentucky a day later gave Clarendon Hills another shot at undefeated Ohio and this time it was Clarendon Hills that managed a 9-4 victory to win the Region championship and advance to the World Series. 'This team has a lot of confidence and they all believe in each other,' Herold said. 'Even after our losses, everyone believed we were going to come back and win.' The Mountain Region champion, Summerlin South Little League from Las Vegas, Nevada, won all three of its games in San Bernardino, California, defeating Colorado, 17-0, and then Utah, 22-12 and 6-3. Summerlin South is the fourth Nevada team to make the World Series.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
Astros' Injured Slugger Labeled Biggest X-Factor In AL West
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Help could soon be on the way for the Houston Astros. Recent reports have indicated that Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez could soon be resuming baseball activities and ramping up for the remainder of the season. One writer specifically believes that Alvarez will shape the American League West picture when he returns. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 2: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros bats during a game against the Houston Astros at Rate Field on May 2, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. CHICAGO, ILLINOIS - MAY 2: Yordan Alvarez #44 of the Houston Astros bats during a game against the Houston Astros at Rate Field on May 2, 2025 in Chicago, Maguire of has listed Alvarez as the biggest X-factor in the AL West for the remainder of the season. "There's no shortage of X-factors in an AL West division that has the Astros and Mariners locked in a tie for first place with a 67-53 record, this after Seattle reeled off wins in nine of 10 games," Maguire wrote. "If Alvarez -- who owns a career .959 OPS in 658 games -- returns soon, he can help ensure that Houston hangs onto the division, not to mention help the Astros make a deep playoff run," he wrote. Alvarez did appear in 29 games earlier this season before hitting the injured list with a fractured right hand. In his 29 games, Alvarez was scuffling a bit with a slash line of .210/.306/.340 and just three home runs in 121 plate appearances. Those numbers are nowhere near his career slash line of .295/.387/.573, good enough to earn him three All-Star appearances, a Rookie of the Year award and two top-10 finishes in MVP voting. One of the game's most prominent power threats Yordan Alvarez notched his 4th straight 30+ HR season 😤 — MLB (@MLB) November 26, 2024 More so than his performance in the regular season each year, Alvarez is known for his outstanding play in the postseason. He has one ALCS MVP award to his name (2021) and had a playoff career-high six home runs in the 2023 postseason. Alvarez returning at full strength could very well be the reason that Houston is able to secure a fifth straight AL West championship. More MLB: Tigers Urged to 'Consider' Alex Bregman If He Opts Out of Red Sox Deal
