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Infielder Kody Clemens was in Durham, N.C., when he received a call from a Phillies official on Thursday night.
“They told me to be prepared for the morning,” Clemens recalled.
Sure enough, by 9:45 a.m. Friday, Clemens learned he would be heading to Philadelphia later that day.
Accompanying him was outfielder Johan Rojas, who had been sent down to triple-A on June 17. The news came as Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber were placed on the 10-day injured list; Harper strained his left hamstring during Thursday’s game, while Schwarber strained his left groin the same night.
The team, already dealing with various injuries, including Clemens' own stint on the 10-day IL due to low back spasms on June 3, was hit hard. But Clemens was now healthy and eager to contribute.
However, the journey to Philadelphia proved challenging on Friday morning. Originally booked on a 12:45 p.m. American Airlines flight, which was delayed until 6 p.m., Clemens and Rojas attempted to board an earlier American flight, only to encounter more delays.
Facing these setbacks, they opted for an unconventional solution.
“The only flight that was on time was a Frontier flight at 12:45,” Clemens explained. “Rojas and I took Frontier, baby. Hell yeah.”
Despite the unexpected flight choice, Clemens and Rojas made it in time for batting practice. As for any additional fees or inconveniences associated with the last-minute switch, Clemens simply remarked, “It was all good. We made it here safe and sound.”