Phillies minor-leaguer Jesen Therrien likely to replace Pat Neshek

With Pat Neshek traded to the Rockies, someone has to fill his void left in the Phillies bullpen. One player who could do just that is Jesen Therrien.

The Phillies finally broke the seal on this year’s trade deadline, trading reliever Pat Neshek to the Rockies for three Low-A players. Neshek being traded is no surprise, so neither should the void he left be.

Neshek was Philadelphia’s best reliever this season. In 43 games, Neshek posted a 1.12 ERA, 1.94 FIP, and 0.82 WHIP. His 3.4% walk rate is the fourth-lowest among qualified relievers this year and his ERA is second-lowest. Overall, his 1.5 fWAR is ninth-best this year and the second-highest of his 11-season career.

Now the question is who will the void left by Neshek. It’s unlikely anyone can match the ridiculous numbers he had this season, but the team will likely want to get an extended look at someone from the minors. That minor-leauger could very well be 24-year-old Jesen Therrien.

The team got a glimpse of Therrien during spring training, and manager Pete Mackanin liked what he saw from Therrien then: [quotes via Matt Breen of Philly.com] (1) (2)

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"“We loved him in spring. I loved his breaking ball,” Mackanin said. “We really got excited about his breaking ball. He has a really nasty breaking ball. It’s good to see. … He’s on the map for me based on what I saw in the spring. He came in, and threw strikes with a really good looking breaking ball. Especially out of the bullpen, if you have a really good breaking ball and you can command it, that’s half the battle.”…“We saw him in the spring and I really liked his breaking ball,” Mackanin said. “He pitched very well in the spring — and I know it’s only spring training — but he wasn’t nervous, he wasn’t scared and I know he’s pitching well. I’d like to see him.”"

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Mackanin said he would like to see Therrien in the majors if anyone was traded, and with Neshek now in Colorado, he may get that chance.

If it is indeed Therrien that comes up to the majors, he has certainly earned that opportunity. In 39 games between Double and Triple-A, he racked up nine saves with a 1.41 ERA, 0.837 WHIP, and 7.22 strikeout-to-walk ratio.

The 2011 17th-round draft pick posses a sinker that sits around 93-94 miles per hour and his slider has compared to that of Brad Lidge, the closer who was perfect in save opportunities during the 2008 World Series season.

Next: Phillie Darren Daulton once again battling cancer

If it isn’t Therrien that gets called up – somehow – Mark Leiter, Jr. could make his return to Philadelphia in the bullpen.

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