PHILADELPHIA -- The Twins selected the contract of pitcher Chase De Jong from Triple-A Rochester on Saturday to reinforce a bullpen that was stretched by Jake Odorizzi's short start in Friday night's series opener against the Phillies. In a corresponding move, first baseman Tyler Austin was designated for assignment.

Though Austin hit nine homers in 35 games last season after he arrived in Minnesota as part of the trade that sent Lance Lynn to the Yankees, his spot on the Major League roster appeared to be in jeopardy after the Twins signed Nelson Cruz, C.J. Cron and Marwin Gonzalez during the offseason to assume the majority of the opportunities at first base and designated hitter.

Austin made the Opening Day roster after leading the Twins with 17 hits during Spring Training in part due to the team's unusual composition of 14 position players and 11 pitchers. But with additional pitching depth needed, Austin's lack of positional flexibility and lack of available opportunities led to him being pushed off the roster.

The 27-year-old Austin was 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored through the first six games of the season.

"I really do wish that we had the opportunity and at-bats for Tyler, because I believe in him," manager Rocco Baldelli said. "I believe in him as a person and as a player. He's a quality, quality right-handed hitter who I think can clearly hit Major League pitching. If we had the opportunity for him here in those at-bats, I think we would have seen that."

Because Austin is out of options, he would need to clear outright waivers to be assigned to the Minor Leagues. If Austin were to clear waivers, he would have the ability to opt for free agency instead of accepting an outright assignment because he has already been outrighted in his career -- by the Yankees in 2015.

When a player's contract is designated for assignment -- often abbreviated "DFA" -- that player is immediately removed from his club's 40-man roster, and 25-man roster if he was on that as well. Within seven days of the transaction (it was previously 10 days), the player must either be traded, released or placed on irrevocable outright waivers.

Baldelli said that De Jong would be available to pitch on Saturday and could provide length or serve as an option in close games. Every Twins reliever except Taylor Rogers and Blake Parker pitched on Friday out of Minnesota's seven-man bullpen after Odorizzi lasted only two outs and 36 pitches.

De Jong, 25, is 1-4 with a 5.28 ERA in 11 career games (eight starts) across two seasons. He had a 3.57 ERA in four starts last season but was designated for assignment and eventually outrighted to Triple-A Rochester when Martin Perez was signed during the offseason.

"I thought he threw the ball well this spring," Baldelli said. "We talked a lot about locking in on some of the things that we talked about with him last year, bringing them into the offseason and into Spring Training, and he did that very well. I think he's in a good place and ready to go and be ready to help us."