PHILADELPHIA -- Right-hander Zach Eflin was activated from the disabled list, optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley and started Tuesday for the Iron Pigs.
The Phillies did not rush Eflin back from double knee surgery in the offseason, especially when he experienced some swelling after tweaking his right knee running sprints.
He struggled in his first Major League start and his final three last season with the Phillies, but was impressive in the seven in between. In those starts, he held a 2.08 ERA and tossed two complete games, one a shutout.
Eflin made a rehab start at Class A Clearwater on Thursday, striking out six and allowing one hit over five innings. Just 12 of his 56 pitches were out of the strike zone. On Tuesday against Scranton Wilkes-Barre, Eflin tossed five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and three walks with four strikeouts. Of his 70 pitches, 42 were strikes.
Phillies reorganize business side
Michael Stiles, the Phillies' executive vice president and chief operating officer, will step down from both roles at the end of June. Stiles began working for the Phillies in 2001 as the vice president for administration and operations before being put in charge of the team's business operations before the '15 season.
The current senior vice president of marketing and advertising sales, David Buck, will be promoted to the role of executive vice president.
John Nickolas serves as vice president and chief financial officer and will be promoted to senior vice president and retain his position as CFO. Rick Strouse was promoted from vice president and general counsel to senior vice president and general counsel.
Special occasion uniforms unveiled
The uniforms the Phillies will wear on a number of special occasions this season -- from Mother's Day pink-accented threads to Stars and Stripes Independence Day get-ups -- were unveiled on Tuesday.
Included are their All-Star Game hats that utilize a heathered red cap with gold-tinted logos and accents, and the orange uniform and black hat that any Phillies Home Run Derby participant would don. The All-Star Game is July 11 at Marlins Park in Miami.