Phillies notes: Adolis García’s struggles, J.T. Realmuto’s wrist and Johan Rojas’ suspension

Adolis García has struggled this season. (Logan Gehman/Phillies Nation)

PHILADELPHIA — Adolis García came out to Citizens Bank Park on Monday to take some extra swings. It was an off day for the Phillies, who wrapped up a West Coast road trip on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles, but the right fielder went to the stadium to work after going 0-for-17 in six games against the Padres and Dodgers.

Interim manager Don Mattingly kept García out of the starting lineup last Tuesday in San Diego. And with the Padres in Philadelphia this Tuesday, he thought about giving the struggling outfielder another day off. Mattingly ultimately decided to let García stay in there for the opener of a three-game series.

“There was some consideration of that,” Mattingly said. “We talked about it. He came out and hit yesterday early, hit early again today. (Hitting coach Kevin) Long felt good about where he was at, so we’re going to hang with him right now.”

García, the club’s lone free-agent addition to the lineup this past offseason, is batting .191 with a .571 OPS in 58 games. He has just four home runs and is striking out 31% of the time. He’s hitting the ball pretty hard, but he has little to show for it. García is hardly the only one in this Phillies offense who’s not producing, but he’s been the team’s worst regular at the plate. He has not provided nearly enough for his impressive glove to make up for the performance with the bat.

The Phillies (30-29) gave the 2023 All-Star and postseason hero García a one-year deal with the hope that he could rebound from a pair of down seasons with the Texas Rangers; his numbers have dipped even more so far in 2026.

But without much outfield depth behind García, the Phillies will continue to ride it out with him, at least for now.

“Guys don’t like, in general, coming in on off days, try to take advantage of them,” Mattingly said, “and the fact that he wanted to come in yesterday, we feel like is a positive. He came in again earlier today to do it. So again, I know he’s struggling. I think everybody obviously knows that. But the fact that he’s wanting to get better — and we need him. If we can get to his upside, then we’re a better team.”

J.T. Realmuto expected to return to lineup on Wednesday

Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto (bruised left wrist) is out of Tuesday’s lineup after he was hit by a 97 mph fastball on Sunday. Garrett Stubbs will bat ninth and catch veteran starter Aaron Nola as he goes against right-hander Randy Vásquez and the Padres.

Mattingly said the Phillies planned to sit Realmuto for this game. As long as he does not report any additional soreness, he will likely catch the next two games of the series with Cristopher Sánchez and Zack Wheeler on the mound.

Philadelphia tabbed third backstop/utility man Stubbs for the start on Tuesday over backup Rafael Marchán because of Stubbs’ history and rapport with Nola, Mattingly said.

Johan Rojas’ suspension ends this month. What’s next for the outfielder?

Center fielder Johan Rojas was suspended for 80 games during spring training after testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug. If the Phillies do not have any postponements, he will be eligible to return on June 25 in Washington. Rojas, however, would not be permitted to participate in the postseason if the Phillies were to qualify.

The defense-first Rojas will be allowed to go on a 15-day minor-league assignment prior to the end of his suspension. After that, the Phillies could either add him to their big-league roster or option him to the minors. Last year, Rojas finished the season in Triple-A, but he got hurt ahead of the playoffs when he could have been a potential bench option if healthy.

Philadelphia could use a right-handed-hitting outfielder, but Rojas might not be the best fit since his bat would not help the scuffling offense. Would the team even want to utilize him this summer if he can’t play in October?

“I think it’s something for us all to talk about,” Mattingly said. “We haven’t really talked much about it at this point. I would think there would be some consideration knowing that you’re not going to be able to use the guy in the postseason. But on the other side of that, you have to get there. So it’s something I’m sure we’ll talk about as an org.”

In 2025, the Phillies did pitch José Alvarado out of the bullpen after he came back from a PED suspension (until he was placed on the injured list), despite the fact that he couldn’t throw in the playoffs. But Alvarado is a hard-throwing left-handed reliever, while Rojas is a role player and a fringe major leaguer. The Phillies will have a decision to make, but they “haven’t crossed that bridge yet,” according to Mattingly.

Phillies notes

• Nola was reinstated from the paternity list before Tuesday’s game. He was able to throw in between starts while away from the team. Reliever Nolan Hoffman was sent back to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to make room for Nola’s return.
• The Phillies did not use Monday’s off day to move up Sánchez’s start and have him go Tuesday on regular rest. Instead, they’ll keep the rotation as is, and the left-handed ace will pitch Wednesday as he looks to continue his franchise-record 44 2/3 scoreless-innings streak.

  “We want to keep everybody on turn,” Mattingly said. “Where we are with our starters, we know it’s a long year. We kind of need these guys to stay healthy as much as we can. So anytime we can buy an inning here or a couple days for a guy, then we’re going to try to do that.”

• Phillies prospect Keaton Anthony (foot surgery) was reinstated from the injured list at Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. The 24-year-old hit six home runs and 31 doubles in 82 minor-league games last season.