Ruben Cardenas, the Phillies’ new farmhand, made his presence known quickly this weekend.
After being traded from the Tampa Bay Rays organization for financial considerations on Thursday, the outfielder hit two home runs in his debut for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs on Saturday, followed by a one-hit, two-walk game on Sunday.
Cardenas is 4-for-6 as an IronPig with three walks, six RBIs, and 11 total bases through two games.
Cardenas was having a terrific season with the Durham Bulls before being dealt to Philadelphia, with an.876 OPS and 11 home runs in 49 games. He is a 26-year-old right-handed bat in his third season at Triple-A and has continued to impress in his brief stint with Lehigh Valley.
With a congested outfield, the Rays chose to trade Cardenas, despite his performance in the minors this season. The Phillies gambled without giving up a player or a space on the 40-man roster in exchange. Cardenas will provide outfield depth for Philadelphia, which has had some roster churn due to injuries to shortstop Trea Turner, left fielder Brandon Marsh, and utility man Kody Clemens.
Cardenas has an.823 OPS in 265 Triple-A games since 2022, and, while primarily a right fielder, he has played both corner outfield and corner infield this season, as well as some center field in previous seasons.
