May 27, 2025; Tampa, Florida, USA; Minnesota Twins second baseman Kody Clemens (18) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second inning at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Nathan Ray Seebeck-Imagn Images Nathan Ray Seebeck
Kody Clemens getting designated for assignment and subsequently traded to the Minnesota Twins last month wasn't earth-shattering news. Clemens' role shrunk to almost nothing, with just seven plate appearances across the Phillies' first 24 games. He didn't record a hit in any of those at-bats.
The Phillies were in need of more right-handed batters in a lefty-heavy lineup. Once Weston Wilson was activated from the injured list following a left oblique strain — which he suffered in Spring Training — Clemens was expendable. He was out of minor-league options and the Phillies DFA'd him on April 23, before trading him a few days later for cash considerations.
Despite his minimal impact on the Phillies, the move came as a surprise to Clemens, which he revealed in an article by The Athletic's Dan Hayes.
"It was out of the blue," Clemens said.
Clemens revealed he thought several other younger players, "who required everyday at-bats," would be sent down instead.
Those comments are slightly confusing considering the outlook of the Phillies' roster. Edmundo Sosa is clearly a player the Phillies trust as a utility infielder, which limited how frequently Clemens could enter the game at second or third base.
The only player that likely fits Clemens' description as someone who could've gone down is Cal Stevenson, who was on the active roster at the time with Brandon Marsh injured. Johan Rojas was the only other player in the outfield that had options left, but he was playing well at the time. Nick Castellanos and Max Kepler are obviously staples of the Phillies' corner outfield positions as well.
From Opening Day, Clemens' role on the Phillies was unknown, which Phillies manager Rob Thomson acknowledged.
"I told Kody as this point it's going to be tough to get him some at-bats," Thomson told On Pattison in March. "But we'll try, whenever we can, to get him a pinch hit here...a pinch hit there... get him a start every once in a while, maybe get (Alec) Bohm off his feet. So we'll just have to do what we can to keep him going, because he's a really good player, a really good offensive player for sure."
That ultimately proved to be tough for Clemens. The opportunities were sparse and he never found his swing.
"It's hard not to put pressure on those at-bats because it might be the only at-bat I get for five days," Clemens told Hayes.
After failing to find a role with the Phillies this season, he was moved to Minnesota. So far, the trade has worked out in his favor. Clemens is in the midst the best stretch of his career. In 65 at-bats across 22 games, he's slashing .304/.391/.696 with a 1.087 OPS.
What a moment 😮
Kody Clemens homers in his first game at Fenway Park ... of course Roger Clemens was there to go crazy for it! pic.twitter.com/QWGhEExl36
— MLB (@MLB) May 3, 2025
Clemens has five home runs — one of which came at Fenway Park on May 3, with his father Roger in attendance.
“I don’t know if it was the unknown when I was DFA’d and didn’t know what was about to happen, or what it would look like, but I came in and was like, ‘I’m going to try and have fun and whatever happens happens.’”
It's safe to say Clemens is having fun now. He's thriving in his role with the Twins instead of floundering away on the Phillies bench, not knowing when his next plate appearance will come.
