Injuries lead to roster moves, Ogando & Cozens promoted

Necessary roster moves were made on Friday following the placement on the disabled list for two injured players.  Phillies reliever Elvis Araujo will miss time with a groin strain while Reading outfielder Nick Williams is out with a concussion following a collision in the field on Wednesday.

Replacing Araujo on the big league roster is righty Nefi Ogando.  The 26-year-old was acquired near the end of the 2013 season from Boston in a trade for utility guy John McDonald.  Ogando, a native of the Dominican Republic, sports a 4-5 record with a 3.05 ERA, three saves and a 7.8 K/9 mark in 42 games combined at Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season.

Filling the void with Reading will be outfielder Dylan Cozens.  The 21-year-old was the Phillies’ 2nd round draft choice in 2012.  In 96 games with Class A Advanced Clearwater this season, Cozens sports a .282 average with five home runs, 46 RBI and 18 steals.

The 24-year-old rookie Araujo was signed as a free agent last off-season.  He had been a solid contributor out of the bullpen this season, sporting a 2-1 record, a 3.38 ERA and a .225 batting average against.

Williams, 21, was one of the prized prospects the Phils acquired from Texas in the trade last month for Cole Hamels.   With Reading, Williams tallied a .326 average with four homers and 10 RBI in 21 games.

The Phillies also announced the veteran hurler Jerome Williams would be headed to the bullpen while newly acquired pitcher Alec Asher will make him major league debut and take his spot in the starting rotation on Sunday.

Asher, another player obtained in the Hamels swap, has a 2-0 record with a 2.08 ERA in four starts since joining Lehigh Valley.