Phillies call up veteran hitter Logan Morrison from triple A

A few days ago, Gabe Kapler said he had been “watching carefully” as veteran big-league hitter Logan Morrison put up big numbers in triple A.

The time has come to get a closer view.

Morrison was called up Wednesday, the Phillies purchasing his contract from triple-A Lehigh Valley. He took the roster spot vacated when Jake Arrieta was placed on the 10-day injured list in preparation for season-ending surgery to remove a bone spur from his right elbow.

"I think one of the things that our player-development department said -- and we take cues from them -- is that this guy is our best available bat off the bench in Lehigh," Kapler said. "He's been swinging the bat great."

Morrison, a left-handed hitter, is strictly a first baseman at this point, which means he will be only a bench bat for the Phillies, who play Rhys Hoskins every day at first.

The 31-year-old veteran of nine major-league seasons is two years removed from hitting a career-high 38 homers for the Tampa Bay Rays. He nevertheless struggled last season with the Minnesota Twins and has spent this year in triple A with the New York Yankees and Phillies.

In 18 games with Lehigh Valley, Morrison was batting .356 (21-for-59) and slugging .593 with five doubles, three home runs, and a 1.028 on-base-plus-slugging percentage.

Mired in a 2-for-28 slump, Hoskins was moved into the leadoff spot. “It’s a relaxation technique,” Kapler said. “One of the things that we stress is being loose and relaxed. What does Rhys do most naturally? Probably see pitches, work pitchers, have good at-bats.” ... The Phillies transferred right-hander Jerad Eickhoff to the 60-day injured list to open a spot on the 40-man roster for Morrison. It was a procedural move. Eickhoff has been sidelined since June 17 with biceps tendinitis and is eligible to be reinstated next week. ... Left-hander Drew Smyly (2-6, 6.96 ERA) will start the series finale Thursday night against Cubs right-hander Yu Darvish (4-6, 4.43 ERA).