The Philadelphia Phillies returned right-hander Orion Kerkering from his rehab assignment with Single-A Clearwater on Sunday and reinstated him from the 15-day injured list.
Kerkering will slot into the roster spot previously held by right-hander Nick Nelson, who was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley following the Phillies’ 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Kerkering, 23, is working his way back from a right forearm strain. He allowed just two hits and struck out 10 with no walks in 4⅓ scoreless innings with Clearwater and Lehigh Valley.
Kerkering posted a 1-0 record with a 3.00 ERA in three relief appearances last season. He allowed one run on three hits and two walks in three innings for the Phillies, who selected him in the fifth round of the 2022 MLB draft.
Nelson, 28, has a 5.40 ERA in three relief appearances this season with Philadelphia. He is 5-4 with a 5.21 ERA in 73 career games (four starts) with the New York Yankees (2020-2021) and Phillies.