Phillies place Corey Knebel on COVID-related IL, select Jeff Singer, send Odubel Herrera on rehab assignment

The Phillies announced Tuesday that they’ve selected the contract of lefty Jeff Singer from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Righty Corey Knebel has been placed on the COVID-related injured list in a corresponding move. The Phils also sent outfielder Odubel Herrera on a rehab assignment with High-A Clearwater.

Singer, 28, has tossed four shutout innings so far for the IronPigs in 2022, though he’s also yielded four walks against just a pair of strikeouts. The Philadelphia native spent the 2021 season in Triple-A as well, pitching to a 4.75 ERA with a 28.2% strikeout rate against a 10.9% walk rate. He’s kept his strikeout rate in the 27-29% range over the past several minor league seasons, albeit without particularly strong walk rates. The Phillies already have five lefties in the bullpen — Jose Alvarado, Brad Hand, Damon Jones, Bailey Falter and Cristopher Sanchez — but Singer will give manager Joe Girardi another option while Knebel is sidelined.

The Phils didn’t specify whether Knebel tested positive for COVID-19, although he did have flu-like symptoms Monday (Twitter link via Alex Coffey of the Philadelphia Inquirer). Still, players can be placed on the COVID-related IL (and thus temporarily removed from the 40-man roster) in the event that they display symptoms or are deemed a close contact of someone known to have tested positive. It’s not clear at this time how long Knebel will be away from the club.