:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/56062807/usa_today_9890016.0.jpg)
When you woke up this morning, you thought today was probably going to be a normal day. You had no idea that today was going to be the day of Sixto Sanchez and Jorge Alfaro.
Let’s start with Sixto, the Phillies top pitching prospect, who was promoted to the Clearwater Threshers earlier today. Sanchez is 19 and is in his first full professional season, and he absolutely dominated Low-A while playing with the Lakewood Blue Claws. He finishes his time there with a 2.41 ERA in 13 starts and 67.1 innings. He struck out 64, walked nine, and allowed just one home run. He’s simply out of challenges in Low-A, and so he’ll finish up 2017 getting used to a new level of hitter.
Sixto is just unfair.
Sixto Sanchez with a 3 pitch strikeout that took all of 20 seconds to get over with. he works fast. pic.twitter.com/VIf7Pje9Kw
— chris jones¯\_(ツ)_/¯ (@LONG_DRIVE) July 24, 2017
And MLB.com’s Ben Harris gave a little context.
Sixto struck out this batter in 28 seconds, shorter than five Major League relievers average in-between pitches this season https://t.co/tmyCvlR64j
— Ben Harris (@byBenHarris) August 4, 2017
As exciting as the Sixto Sanchez promotion was, it’s not the most exciting promotion news of the day. Catcher Jorge Alfaro is being called up to the majors. At first, we thought he might just be in for a visit.
Jorge Alfaro is here in Denver. So is Ricardo Pinto. No roster moves yet.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 4, 2017
I mean, Denver is an incredible city. Why not visit, right?
#Phillies have recalled Jorge Alfaro and Ricardo Pinto from Lehigh Valley.
— Phillies (@Phillies) August 4, 2017
To make room on the 25-man roster, Ty Kelly was optioned to AAA. pic.twitter.com/bTI22JQ1vm
So no, he wasn’t visiting. Alfaro is coming up in response to Andrew Knapp’s injury on Thursday night. He was hit in the hand with a pitch, and the diagnosis was just a contusion. And he’s been pretty thoroughly checked out.
Andrew Knapp had two X-Rays and saw Rockies doctor. No break. No DL. But it hurts. So Alfaro will be activated. Ty Kelly optioned to AAA.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 4, 2017
I would imagine it still hurts, he was hit in the hand with a baseball traveling very fast. So there was just no other option other than to call Alfaro up. Whether he stays up, especially with the Triple-A playoffs right around the corner, remains to be seen. If he goes back down, I have no doubt he’ll be back up once the playoffs are through.
Alfaro got off to a blistering start to begin the year, But he’s had a tough time of late. Through the first two months of the season, he hit .289/.316/.410 with three homers, but 3 walks and 54 strikeouts. In 174 plate appearances. Yowza. So it wasn’t terribly surprising when things started taking a dive downward. He hit .200 with 23 strikeouts in June, and .167 with 31 strikeouts in July. Not great. Overall, he’s hitting .241/.291/.358. This will be his second trip to the majors. He’s not starting on Friday, but he’ll presumably start sometime over the weekend.
There was room for Alfaro because the Phillies sent Jake Thompson down. But there was no room for pitcher Ricardo Pinto, who the also recalled. So unfortunately, someone had to go. And that someone is adorable walk-off machine Ty Kelly. We’ll miss you, Ty! Hopefully you’ll be back soon. Until then, enjoy delightful Allentown, PA.