Phillies Roster Roulette: Jay Bruce Injured Again, Adam Haseley Is Back in Big Leagues

Updated: 9:09 p.m. 

SAN FRANCISCO - Jay Bruce's return to action did not last long.

Neither did Adam Haseley's trip to the minor leagues.

After one game back in the lineup, Bruce has returned to the injured list, this time with a left elbow injury.

Haseley, who despite swinging a hot bat was sent to Triple A to clear room for Bruce on Thursday, has been recalled. He was in the starting lineup in center field against the Giants on Friday night. He had never actually reported to Triple A and is allowed to return to the majors without the typical 10-day wait because his recall is the result of an injury.

Bruce returned to the Phillies' lineup on Thursday night after being sidelined for three weeks with an oblique injury. Like every other player in the starting lineup, he went hitless in a 5-0 loss to Madison Bumgarner and the Giants. (Pinch-hitter Cesar Hernandez had the Phillies' only hit.) Bruce emerged from the game with elbow soreness, the result of a throw he made in the third inning.

An MRI performed on Friday revealed that Bruce had a Grade 1 flexor strain. He will not hit or throw for two weeks. He will be evaluated after that.

"Frustrating is the only word for it," Bruce said. "I needed to make a throw, I threw it, and it did not feel good."

Bruce is optimistic he will return to play this season.

Bruce's latest injury begs the question of why the Phillies did not send him to the minors for a couple of games to get some at-bats and test his body in a rehab setting. Oftentimes, teams defer to veteran players on rehab assignments. Bruce did go through extensive outfield workouts in the days leading up to his coming off the IL.

"We look at decisions like that from every angle," manager Gabe Kapler said. "He was rehabbing an intercostal muscle that was healed and he was feeling strong. He felt like his timing and his rhythm were where they needed to be. The injury that he was dealing with got better. He got in the batter's box last night and smoked a ball and sprinted to first base. He looked great and felt great."

Bruce, 32, was acquired from Seattle in June. He hit 10 homers and drove in 29 runs in his first 28 games with the club but is 0 for 17 since the All-Star break.

Bruce is under contract with the Phillies for next season. He had $21 million remaining on his deal when the Phillies acquired him, but the Phils are on the hook for just $2.75 million of that.

Thursday's decision to send Haseley to the minors raised eyebrows because he was hitting .350 with a .381 on-base percentage and a .500 slugging percentage over his previous 11 games and he had five hits, including two doubles, while starting the first three games on this road trip. The Phils were nearly no-hit without Haseley on Thursday night. Now, the 23-year-old outfielder is back on the active roster. Maybe the Phils will get more than one hit Friday night.

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