Austin Hays Returns to Phillies After Injury Layoff
- Philadelphia Phillies activated Austin Hays after 13-game absence due to hamstring injury.
- Hays returns to the team following his recovery from the injury.
- The outfielder is back in action after being sidelined for the past games.
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — The Philadelphia Phillies have welcomed back outfielder Austin Hays, who has been activated from the 10-day injured list after missing 13 games due to a left hamstring strain. The move comes just in time for the Phillies' series opener against the Kansas City Royals, with Hays set to play left field and bat ninth in the lineup. Hays, 29, sustained the hamstring injury during a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers on August 7, leading to his placement on the injured list two days later. The Phillies acquired him from the Baltimore Orioles shortly before the July 30 trade deadline. Prior to his injury, Hays participated in 10 games with the Phillies, achieving a batting average of .263 and a .677 on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS), along with one home run, two doubles, and five runs. To accommodate Hays' return, the Phillies optioned outfielder Cal Stevenson back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Stevenson, 27, had played seven games for the Phillies, contributing two hits and two walks during his stint. Hays has been preparing for his return by playing two rehab games with the IronPigs, where he reached base three times in seven plate appearances. As the Phillies gear up for their matchup against the Royals, starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (3-4, 5.69) is scheduled to face Kansas City’s Michael Wacha (10-6, 3.33) at Kauffman Stadium.