New Phillies farmhand makes quick impact after trade from Rays

Coca-Cola Park is the home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs. (Ty Daubert, Phillies Nation)

New Phillies farmhand Ruben Cardenas made his presence within the organization known quickly this weekend.

After a trade from the Tampa Bay Rays organization for cash considerations on Thursday, the outfielder launched two home runs in his debut for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Saturday and followed with a one-hit, two-walk performance on Sunday.

Overall, Cardenas is 4-for-6 as an IronPig with three walks, six RBIs and 11 total bases in two games.

Cardenas was enjoying a strong season for the Durham Bulls before he was traded to Philadelphia, posting an .876 OPS with 11 homers in 49 games. A 26-year-old right-handed hitter, he’s in his third season at the Triple-A level and has just kept rolling in his brief time with Lehigh Valley.

With a crowded outfield, the Rays decided to deal Cardenas despite his success in the minors this year. The Phillies took a flier without giving up a player — or a spot on the 40-man roster — in return. Cardenas will serve as outfield depth for a Philadelphia club that’s had some roster turnover with recent injuries to shortstop Trea Turner, left fielder Brandon Marsh and utility man Kody Clemens.

Cardenas has an .823 OPS in 265 Triple-A games since 2022, and, while primarily a right fielder, he’s played both corner outfield and corner infield spots this season with some experience in center field in years past.