Phillies promote pitcher Bubby Rossman, who had spent entire season with Reading Fightin Phils
Jul. 13—Right-handed pitcher Bubby Rossman, who had spent the entire season with the Reading Fightin Phils, was promoted to the Philadelphia Phillies as a substitute player Wednesday.
Rossman, 30, took the roster spot of fellow righty Kyle Gibson for Wednesday's game in Toronto.
Gibson was among four Phillies placed on the restricted list Tuesday due to Canada's restrictions on travelers unvaccinated against COVID-19. Also placed on the restricted list were pitcher Aaron Nola, catcher J.T. Realmuto and third baseman Alec Bohm.
All four forfeit two days of pay and major league service time in accordance with the terms of MLB's collective bargaining agreement.
Nola could not be replaced on the roster as he pitched Monday in St. Louis and would not have pitched against the Blue Jays. Gibson, who pitched Saturday, was not eligible to be replaced until Wednesday.
The Phillies brought up catcher Rafael Marchan and right-handed pitcher Nick Duron from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday as substitute players.
Substitute players are not subject to options or waivers and can be freely sent back to the minors following the series with the Blue Jays. That means Rossman's big league stay likely will be just for Wednesday's game.
Rossman signed with the Phillies as a minor league free agent in the offseason after pitching last season for the York Revolution in the independent Atlantic League.
He went 2-2 with one save and a 3.32 ERA in 40.2 innings over 27 games, eight of them starts, for the Fightin Phils. He allowed 29 hits, walked 20 and struck out 48. He had a 1.67 ERA over his last 32.1 innings.
Rossman was a 22nd-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2014 draft. Before this season, he had last pitched in affiliated baseball in 2016. He had pitched in independent leagues in 2017 and 2019-21. He did not play in 2018.
Rossman is the third player to go directly from Reading to the big leagues this season, joining outfielder Simon Muzziotti and right-handed reliever Francisco Morales.
Also Wednesday, the Phillies selected the contract of infielder Will Toffey from Triple-A Lehgih Valley.
Toffey, 27, had been acquired from the San Francisco Giants in March for utilityman Luke Williams.
The left-handed batter was hitting .266 with three home runs, 20 RBIs and an .823 OPS for the IronPigs. He had hit .372 with a .977 OPS in his last 20 games. He was a fourth-round pick by the Oakland Athletics in the 2017 draft.
To make room on the active roster, right-hander Mike Kelly was optioned to Lehigh Valley.
