You only get one chance to make a first impression. Ruben Cardenas took that opportunity in his first game with the IronPigs Saturday night when he hit two home runs and drove in six runs in a win over the Buffalo Bisons.

Not bad for a guy who was acquired earlier in the week from the Tampa Bay Rays for cash. Cardenas is one of the many new faces on the team that have joined either by promotion from lower levels or in deals with other teams.

While the Phillies are looking high and low for outfield help, Tampa Bay has a wealth of outfielders, and Cardenas was somewhat of a spare part.

Don’t take the fact that he was dealt for cash, or the fact that he is in his third season at Triple-A as a sign that the 26-year-old is a bust. Cardenas hit 11 home runs and posted an .876 OPS with Durham in 49 games this season and overall has an .823 OPS at Triple-A and has 51 home runs and 157 RBI in 265 games at the Triple-A level with Tampa.

Cardenas was originally drafted by the Marlins in the 37th round of the 2015 MLB Draft out of Cal State Fullerton but did not sign. In 2018, Cleveland selected him in the 16th round and signed him to a minor league deal. The right-handed hitter is primarily a corner outfielder, but has played 52 games in center field in the minors and Durham used him at first base in 16 games this season. He also made one start at third base earlier this season.

The Phillies made another deal where they used “cash considerations” to acquire a veteran player originally from Millville, New Jersey. No, not Mike Trout, but Buddy Kennedy.

Who knew that the quaint little town of Millville has produced two major leaguers?

Kennedy came over from the Detroit Tigers . He played in six games with Detroit in April. Overall, the 25-year-old has played in 46 major league games since 2022 - 40 of which were with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In those games he has hit just .205 with two home runs. At the Triple-A level, Kennedy is a .277 hitter with 15 home runs and 104 RBI in 233 games.

Kennedy is primarily a second and third baseman who has played some first base and left field. Kennedy will join the team this week for their road trip to Syracuse.

Pitcher Freddy Tarnok was claimed off waivers from Oakland. Tarnok, 25, was activated off the IL by the Phillies and optioned to Lehigh Valley.

To make room for him on the 40-man roster, Dylan Covey was transferred to the 60-day IL by the Phillies. Tarnok, who was the 13th best prospect in the Oakland organization, opened the season on the IL with hip inflammation and has not pitched for Oakland. The right-hander pitched 2/3 of an inning for Atlanta in 2022 and 14 2/3 innings for Oakland last season, amassing a 4.70 ERA between the two stops. Tarnok made his IronPigs debut Saturday with a scoreless inning against Buffalo.

In other moves, David Dahl and Weston Wilson were recalled by the Phillies. Dahl came up when Brandon Marsh went on the IL, and Wilson was added to the roster as the extra player allowed by MLB for the two-game London Series over the weekend.

Dahl homered in his first game with the Phillies and homered again Sunday in London against the Mets. Wilson played second base and went 0-for-3 on Sunday.

IronPigs players Darick Hall, Rafael Marchan, and Nick Nelson were added to the Phillies Taxi Squad for the trip to London but did not see game action. Filling their spots with Lehigh Valley were pitcher Blaine Knight, outfielder Cade Fergus, and catcher/infielder William Simoneit.

Also, Kolby Allard was promoted from Reading at the expense of fellow pitcher Eury Ramos, who was sent to the Fightins. David Buchanan and Matt Kroon have been placed on Lehigh Valley’s IL.

PROGRESS

… Lehigh Valley is 7-3 in its last 10 games and are clear of the cellar in the International League East. At 27-34, the Pigs are 10 1/2 games behind first place the Syracuse Mets (38-24) who they play this week on the road.

NEXT WEEK

… Lehigh Valley is back at home next week when it hosts Norfolk (32-31), the Triple-A affiliate of the Baltimore Orioles.