Phillies Notes: Dalier Hinojosa, Ken Roberts among likely Phils call-ups

NEW YORK - The annual date for major-league roster expansion Tuesday will not see the Phillies promote any touted prospects like they did a year ago by summoning Maikel Franco. This year's crop of September call-ups will be minimal altogether.

The team will promote "probably three" players, according to interim manager Pete Mackanin, and maybe one or two more at the end of the triple-A season. Tuesday's call-ups are likely to consist of bullpen depth and a third catcher.

"I don't think you're going to see a lot of moves made because the guys that are here are the ones that need to continue to play and progress," assistant general manager Scott Proefrock said. "I think most likely the moves will be pitching-related to protect some of the young guys as they extend themselves beyond any point they have previously."

While the Phillies won't announce their roster additions until Tuesday, two likely candidates are righthander Dalier Hinojosa and lefthander Ken Roberts, each triple-A relievers already on the 40-man roster. The Phillies, currently with a full 40-man roster, will need to clear a spot to bring up a catcher, likely Erik Kratz.

To clear a spot, the Phillies can simply shift a player from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day DL. There are several players on the 15-day DL with whom they could make such a move. Chad Billingsley's season is indeed over because of his flexor strain, Proefrock confirmed Monday. He was shut down after a doctor's visit earlier in August.

Matt Harrison, placed on the 15-day DL with back inflammation shortly after the Phillies acquired him in the Cole Hamels trade, remains unlikely to pitch again this season. His injury issues stem further than the back troubles that have plagued him over the last three years, said Proefrock, who added, "I don't imagine we see him before the end of the year."

As far as potential promotions later in the month, reliever Nefi Ogando is a likely candidate. He received his first big-league call-up Friday but was optioned after Saturday's game without making an appearance. A player must spend 10 days in the minors before he is eligible to be recalled.

Ogando's call to the Phillies coincided with Elvis Araujo's landing on the disabled list with a groin strain. The team will exercise caution with Araujo and it's "probably unlikely" the 24-year-old lefthanded reliever returns before season's end, Proefrock said. Araujo posted a 3.38 ERA over 342/3 big-league innings.

"He's done very well, and he's got a chance to be a piece for us going forward," Proefrock said. "There's no reason to take any unneeded chances with him."

Franco will swing in the batting cage Wednesday for the first time since his Aug. 11 wrist injury. "I'm excited because I've had a long time just watching the game and to just be bored," he said. "I want to be back. But I want everything to be right. . . . We'll see what's going to happen." . . . Participants and rosters for the Arizona Fall League will be announced Tuesday.