New Jersey Athlete Called Up by Phillies for Key Bench Role

The Philadelphia Phillies came into the 2025 Major League Baseball (MLB) season with the plan to alternate Left-Handed and Right-Handed Hitters depending on the opposing starting pitchers.

The addition of Left-Handed Hitting Max Kepler this offseason to an already heavy left-handed batting lineup made it essential to have versatility on the roster. But the underwhelming play of the Phillies' Bench has left people questioning the roster depth while Manager Rob Thomson has changed the batting lineup more times than he wants to admit this season.

In response to inconsistent offense and unforeseen injuries, the Phillies latest roster moves change the team's bench depth and confirm recent reports about the starting rotation.

Philadelphia Calls Up South Jersey High School Graduate To Fill Bench Role

The Phillies have officially optioned Weston Wilson to Triple-A Leigh Valley and called up Millville High School Graduate Buddy Kennedy ahead of the final game of the four-game series with the Miami Marlins.

In 61 games at Triple-A this season, Kennedy has 8 Home Runs and 40 RBI with a .388 On-Base Percentage. The 26-year-old appeared in eight games with the Phillies last season after being acquired from the Detroit Tigers, and Buddy Kennedy had 2 RBI in 13 Plate appearances.

What is interesting about Kennedy coming up to replace Wilson on the roster is his lack of experience playing the Outfield. In total, the Millville High School Graduate has only played only 11 games in Left Field, a number dwarfed by Weston Wilson's 30 Major League Games and 159 Minor League Games in the Outfield.

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But Wilson has struggled at the plate this season. In 20 games, the 30-year-old Utility Player has a miserable .194 Batting Average with one home run, four RBI, and his .587 OPS (On-Base Plus Slugging) is the second worst on the Phillies current roster.

Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

Buddy Kennedy has played 33 games at First Base, 15 games at Second Base, and Nine as the Designated Hitter, but no games in the Outfield in 2025. Wilson was playing Left Field on days the opposing Starting Pitcher was Left-Handed so it will be interesting to see if Kennedy fills that role or if Max Kepler stays in the daily batting lineup moving forward.

For Kennedy to join the big league club, the Phillies made room on the 40-man roster by transferring Pitcher Aaron Nola to the 60-day injured list. Nola, who is recovering from a Right Ankle Sprain and a Rib Injury, said on the Phightin Words Podcast that he anticipates no returning to pitch for the Phillies for a couple of months.

Selected in the Fifth Round of the 2017 MLB Draft by the Aizona Diamondbacks, Buddy Kennedy is one of six players from South Jersey to play games in the majors in the last 25 years:

KEEP READING: South Jersey Athletes Who Played/Coached in NBA and MLB

Gallery Credit: Josh Hennig

These Greater Atlantic City, NJ Area Athletes Have Played Games In NFL

Many people are not aware of the number of athletes from the Greater Atlantic City Region who have played in the National Football League. Football players who played at high schools in Cape May, Atlantic, Cumberland, and Ocean Counties have a strong representation in the NFL over the last few decades.

One of the most difficult accomplishments in sports is to make a Professional Sports Roster and earn the opportunity to play in a game at the highest level of the sport. Check out some of the great South Jersey Athletes who have played in games in the NFL:

Gallery Credit: Joshua Hennig/Townsquare Media