One Phillies reliever has finally made it back from injury.
Right-handed pitcher Sam Coonrod (right shoulder strain) was activated from the 60-day injured list. In a corresponding move, Corey Knebel was placed on the 15-day injured list with a right lat strain. Left-handed pitcher Andrew Vasquez has been designated for assignment to make room for Coonrod on the 40-man roster.
Coonrod’s injury dates back to spring training, when he began dealing with shoulder issues in late March. He started ramping up for a return last month, appearing in his first rehab outing in Clearwater on July 23.
In his first season with the Phillies, Coonrod compiled a 4.04 ERA in 42 1/3 innings. Right forearm tendinitis kept him out of the bullpen for about two months last season.
For Knebel, this is not the first time a lat strain has kept him off the field. He suffered the same injury in late April as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers and returned around this time last year for a playoff run. You could see it as an encouraging sign that the Phillies did not immediately place him on the 60-day injured list. Doing so would have effectively ended his season.
Knebel suffered the injury in an outing against the New York Mets on Sunday. After throwing a 94 mph fastball way outside for ball three, Knebel signaled for a trainer and was removed from the game.
Knebel has a 3.43 ERA in 44 2/3 innings with the Phillies this season. He signed a one-year, $10 million deal with Philadelphia in the offseason.