The Phillies have activated first baseman Jim Thome from the DL today. To make room for Thome, the Phils optioned infielder Pete Orr to Lehigh Valley.
Yesterday, Matt Gelb did a short post about Thome’s future with the Phillies this season. After the Phillies next two games against the Dodgers, they go on a nine-game road trip against American League teams.
That means the Phillies will use a designated for all nine of those games, giving Thome a spot in the lineup so he can strictly hit. While he was in Clearwater rehabbing, he was strictly a DH as his back couldn’t handle the strains while playing first base.
This leaves Thome’s future bleak for the Phils when they finish their nine-game trip. If Thome is swinging the bat well, maybe an adjustment to their top left-handed pinch hitter won’t be as rough as it has statistically been proven in Thome’s career.
This year, Thome is only 2-for-12, striking out 10 times and walking only three times.
