PHILADELPHIA – The Phillies placed right-hander Jonathan Bowlan on the 15-day injured list with a strained right groin on Monday.
They recalled right-hander Seth Johnson from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take his place on the roster.
Bowlan, 29, said he first felt something in the dugout following Sunday’s eighth-inning appearance against the Diamondbacks at Citizens Bank Park, so he isn’t sure if it happened on a specific pitch or not. He said he considered not saying anything about the strain, but he figured this early in the season it made sense to be cautious.
“It’s happened before, like three years ago,” Bowlan said. “I was back in a week or two.”
Phillies manager Rob Thomson said he expects Bowlan to rejoin the bullpen in 15 days. Bowlan is eligible to be activated as early as April 28.
“It’s very mild,” Thomson said.
Bowlan, 29, is 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in seven appearances for the Phillies, striking out eight and walking one in seven innings.
The Phillies acquired Bowlan in December from Kansas City for left-hander Matt Strahm. Johnson had a 3.00 ERA in six appearances with the IronPigs, striking out 11 and walking three in six innings.
“He’s throwing strikes,” Thomson said. “He’s pounding the ball through the zone, which is what we’ve wanted him to do. Because the stuff has always been there.”