Phillies 2015 Christmas: Naughty or Nice?
By Matt Veasey
Aug 21, 2015; Miami, FL, USA;
Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Eickhoff (48) looks on from the pitcher’s mound during the first inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park.
(Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports)
JERAD EICKHOFF: “NICE”
At this year’s MLB trade deadline, the Phillies sent longtime staff ace and World Series hero Hamels and hard-throwing lefty reliever Jake Diekman away to the Texas Rangers for a big five-prospect package, as well as injured veteran lefty Matt Harrison. The other four prospects in the deal, catcher Jorge Alfaro, outfielder Nick Williams, and pitchers Jake Thompson and Alec Asher, were all more highly rated than Jerad Eickhoff.
Then a funny thing happened. Eickhoff received the call to the big leagues, and got to make his Major League Baseball debut on August 21st at Miami. He shut the host Marlins out on five hits over six strong innings in winning that debut. A fluke? Hardly. In all, Eickhoff would make eight starts for the Phillies, six of those Quality Starts. In his final four outings, he lasted seven innings in each, striking out 10 in each of his last two starts.