Phillies Notebook: Ender the Inciarte era

ATLANTA - Ender Inciarte said it was "like a dream come true" to make it to the big leagues on Opening Day.

Less than 24 hours later, his dream came to an end, at least in Philadelphia.

The Phils claimed fellow Venezuelan outfielder Ezequiel Carrera off waivers from the Cleveland Indians on Tuesday afternoon. To make room for Carrera on the roster, Inciarte was designated for assignment.

Why Carrera over Inciarte?

The 22-year-old Inciarte has never played in a game above the Class A level. And as a Rule 5 pick, he would have had to stay on the big-league roster all season.

The only way the Phils could have kept him in the system is if they offered him back to his original team, Arizona, and the Diamondbacks declined to take him back. They could also could worked out a trade, which they reportedly tried, according to CSNPhilly.com.

But they were unsuccessful and have moved on with Carrera.

Carrera, 25, is 3 years older than Inciarte and he has big-league experience. The lefthanded-hitting Carrera has played in 116 major league games in the last two seasons in Cleveland.

Carrera hit .272 with a .312 OBP in 48 games with the Indians last season. He stole eight bases in nine attempts.

Carrera also hit .294 with 65 runs, 19 doubles, six triples and 26 stolen bases in 96 games at Triple A Columbus in 2012.

While in the big leagues, Carrera has played 85 games in centerfield in the last two seasons, which is important since the only player the Phils currently have as a backup centerfielder is John Mayberry Jr.

Carrera, originally signed by the New York Mets in 2005, stole 11 bases in 13 attempts in 20 games with the Indians this spring. New Cleveland manager Terry Francona raved about Carrera's speed.

"His speed impacts the game," Francona told the Cleveland Plain Dealer.

After the Indians signed free agents Nick Swisher and Michael Bourn this winter, there were fewer outfield jobs to be had this spring. Carrera will be in uniform for the Phillies-Braves game Wednesday night at Turner Field.

Delmon Young's rehab took an important step on Tuesday when he took his position in rightfield for the first time.

Young, who is on the disabled list while recovering from right ankle surgery in November, played in the outfield for three innings in an extended spring training game in Clearwater, Fla. The 27-year-old Young began hitting a month ago and progressed toward running and taking regular at-bats as a designated hitter in minor league games in the last 2 weeks of camp in March.

Young was placed on the DL when the Phils finalized their 25-man roster on Saturday. The move was retroactive to March 22, meaning he could be activated as soon as Saturday.

But Young isn't expected in a Phillies lineup until mid-to-late April.

Young spent the majority of last season as a designated hitter and hasn't played rightfield since 2007. In addition to getting his ankle strong and healthy, the Phils want Young to show he can play an adequate rightfield regularly while in Clearwater.

Roy Halladay will take the mound with the chance to collect his 200th career win on Wednesday night. Only one active pitcher has won 200 games: New York Yankees lefthander Andy Pettitte has 245 career wins. Atlanta's Tim Hudson, who started against the Phillies on Monday, has 197 wins while Yankees lefty CC Sabathia has 191 . . . Chase Utley hit his 200th career home run on Monday night. If you include his last nine exhibition games in March, Utley has five home runs in his last 10 games. He's hitting at a .389 clip (14-for-36) over the 2-week span . . . Jimmy Rollins' 13th straight Opening Day start at shortstop broke a tie with Larry Bowa (1970-81) for the club record for the position. The last shortstop to start 13 consecutive Opening Day games was Ozzie Guillen (1985-97, Chicago White Sox).