Jhoan Duran hits IL with ‘mild’ oblique strain, Felix Reyes to debut

Another hit to the Phillies’ bullpen, this time to its most important arm.

Closer Jhoan Duran was placed on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to April 15.

Duran said he first felt it Wednesday, and Rob Thomson said Saturday that it kept him unavailable for the Phillies’ 11-2 loss to the Cubs that night. The club gave him a chance to play catch and then do a light “touch-and-feel” session off the mound Saturday, but he felt the pull again.

“It’s nothing strong,” Duran said. “It pinched me when I was doing my rotation when I threw,” Duran said.

That was enough for the Phillies to shut him down and get imaging. “It’s very, very mild, very soft,” Thomson said. “That’s a good thing.”

Duran had said he felt fine the previous two days, but the Phillies are being careful with the arm they trust most in the ninth inning.

The flamethrower has been dominant to begin the season, recording five saves with a 1.35 ERA in seven appearances. Losing him is a real blow, even if the Phillies do not expect it to be a long absence.

Thomson stopped short of putting a firm timetable on it, but made clear the concern level is not especially high.

“I’m not sure,” he said of a return timeline. “It’s not gonna be long.”

A BEVY OF ROSTER MOVES

The Phillies also made a couple of position-player moves Saturday.

Utility man Otto Kemp was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, and outfielder Felix Reyes was promoted.

Kemp, 26, got off to a slow start at the plate, going 2-for-20 with no extra-base hits. He had been used mostly in left field, still a relatively new position for him, and mostly against left-handed pitching.

Thomson said the move was more about getting Kemp regular at-bats than anything else.

“This will be good for him,” Thomson said. “It gives Otto a chance to go down, get some consistent at-bats, get his rhythm and timing, his confidence back. We really like Otto. He’s a really good player. It just hasn’t performed yet because of our lack of consistent at-bats.”

Reyes, meanwhile, forced the issue.

The 26-year-old right-handed hitter has been tearing up International League pitching, slashing .333/.345/.654 with eight doubles, six home runs and 15 RBIs. Last season at Double-A Reading, he hit .335 and won the Eastern League batting title.

The Phillies plan to use him in left field, where Thomson believes he is more capable than people may assume.

“He’ll surprise you how athletic he is,” Thomson said. “He’s a lot better runner than people give him credit for. He’s very intelligent. He’s really performed, so maybe this gives us a little bit of a shot of energy.”

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect has logged more than 300 minor league innings in the outfield and also got work there in the Dominican Winter League this past offseason. He has spent time at first and third base in the minors as well, which gives the Phillies some flexibility.

He also did not sound overwhelmed by the opportunity.

“I feel comfortable there right now,” Reyes said of left field.

Reyes said he got the call late Friday night and barely slept after that. His first call went to his mother. He arrived Saturday after a travel day that began early in the morning, but said his time around the big league club in Spring Training helped calm the nerves.

“I think that helped me a lot,” Reyes said. “To be around the same group of players and share the clubhouse with them during spring training makes me feel good and comfortable being here.”

Reyes, who is wearing No. 29, is set to bat seventh and play left field Saturday night against Braves left-hander Chris Sale.

To fill Duran’s bullpen spot, the Phillies recalled right-hander Seth Johnson from Triple-A. Johnson had made one appearance following a promotion when Jonathan Bowlan, one of the other three Phillies relievers currently on the injured list, went down. He was optioned the next day.

The Phillies also announced they had released outfielder Pedro León, who had been at Triple-A after spending time with the club in big league camp this spring.

One other wrinkle to watch: Thomson did not rule out Kyle Schwarber getting occasional looks in left field, which could help get another position player off his feet from time to time.

“Never say never,” Thomson said.