After a bullpen meltdown in Texas, the Phillies looked to make a move to bring in a reinforcement. The problem was that they were limited in who they could promote because players optioned out need to be in the minors for 15 days before they can be recalled. Instead, they went another direction and selected the contract of McKinley Moore and designated outfielder Jhailyn Ortiz for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster.
Marte was not the lone reliever that struggled in the lone star state. He was however, among the worst of the pitchers and took the bullet by being demoted. Marte, who was acquired during the offseason from the San Francisco Giants, pitched in two games with the Phillies and lasted just one inning during which he gave up six earned runs leading to a 54.00 ERA. Marte allowed five hits and four walks.
Moore was also acquired in a trade last spring for outfielder Adam Haseley from the Chicago White Sox. He had an impressive spring training with the Phillies, going 9 1/3 innings in nine outings without allowing an earned run. He walked just one batter and gave up five hits and posted 11 strikeouts. The 24-year-old reached Double-A for the first time last season and was 4-5, 4.35 in 38 relief appearances and one start at Reading. He pitched in one game with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this season and allowed one earned run in two innings in the series at Rochester.
Ortiz has slowly worked his way through the Phillies organization aftr signing with the Phillies as an amateur free agent in 2015 as an amateur free agent at the age of 16. Now 24, Ortiz was moved to Triple-A Lehigh Valley for the first time out of spring trainning and went 1-for-5 in one game with the IronPigs this season and hit 17-61-.237/.319/.415 at Double-A last season.