After quietly producing at the plate and in the field for four months at Triple A, infielder Taylor Featherston was called up to the majors by the Phillies on Monday. He'll replace Andres Blanco, who was placed on the 15-day DL with a fractured left index finger suffered on Sunday.
Featherson, 26, is not a prospect. He's a slick-fielding utility infielder the Phillies acquired from the Angels in exchange for cash on Feb. 10. After hitting .162 in 101 games with the Halos last season, Featherston hit .264/.320/.446 with 20 doubles, four triples, 12 homers and 32 RBIs in 385 plate appearances for the IronPigs this season.
Featherston, a right-handed hitter, can play every infield position except catcher, though the bulk of his professional time has come up at second base.
Blanco was injured when he was spiked on the hand by Pirates rightfielder Gregory Polanco on a play at third base Sunday. It's a tough loss for the Phils — Blanco is a key figure on the Phillies' bench and in the clubhouse. A journeyman before he arrived in Philadelphia in 2014, Blanco has hit .283 with an .817 OPS in 206 games with the Phils. He has 40 doubles and 12 home runs in those 482 plate appearances.
Altherr moves up
Outfielder Aaron Altherr, out since spring training with a wrist fracture, moved from Double A Reading to Triple A Lehigh Valley on his rehab assignment. The Phillies have until Wednesday to decide whether to call up Altherr or option him to Triple A. It's likely they'll bring him up and play him regularly in right field, which was the plan for this season before he was injured on a diving catch attempt early in camp.
