Through the early part of the 2026 season, the Philadelphia Phillies have struggled to get meaningful contributions from their bench. Various players have been tested in lineups against left-handed starters, but none have delivered. As a result, the team is once again reshaping its bench in search of a better solution.
Otto Kemp, who started the season on the major league roster but was sent down after a rough beginning, has now been optioned back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, as reported by Matt Gelb of The Athletic. In his place, the Phillies are bringing up Steward Berroa, a switch-hitting outfielder they claimed off waivers from the Milwaukee Brewers on April 8. Berroa offers a different set of tools off the bench for interim manager Don Mattingly.
Berroa, who has appeared in 30 big league games with the Toronto Blue Jays and Brewers, hasn’t impressed offensively, posting a .167/.314/.190 line. While his 31.4% strikeout rate is high, he also shows solid plate discipline with a 17.6% walk rate. However, the Phillies aren’t counting on him to provide much hitting. Instead, they value his speed and defensive ability.
Primarily a center fielder in the minors this year, Berroa gives Mattingly a valuable late-game option whether as a pinch-runner in close contests or as a defensive replacement to protect a lead. That’s a role the Phillies previously lacked. Over the past ten days, Kemp saw just five at-bats, making it evident he wasn’t part of Mattingly’s plans. A similar situation happened with Felix Reyes, who was sent down when Kemp was recalled earlier this month. Neither appeared ready for major league pitching, leading to reduced playing time.
“It was tough to find at-bats, and I don’t want to force it,” Mattingly said. “So it’s a tough spot to be in.”
Given the circumstances, Berroa’s skill set makes better use of a bench spot. If the extra position player won’t see regular starts, it makes sense to prioritize someone who adds a new dimension like speed and defense.
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