That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Phillies: Most underrated players of the 2000s

By George Stockburger

Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
Brett Myers, Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /
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Philadephia Phillies’ starting pitcher Randy Wolf hurls against the St. Louis Cardinals16 August 2002 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA. Wolf, who threw a total of 123 pitches, increased his record to 8-7 with the Phillies’ 4-0 win. AFP PHOTO/ TOM MIHALEK (Photo by TOM MIHALEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read TOM MIHALEK/AFP via Getty Images)
Philadephia Phillies’ starting pitcher Randy Wolf hurls against the St. Louis Cardinals16 August 2002 at Veterans Stadium in Philadelphia, PA. Wolf, who threw a total of 123 pitches, increased his record to 8-7 with the Phillies’ 4-0 win. AFP PHOTO/ TOM MIHALEK (Photo by TOM MIHALEK / AFP) (Photo credit should read TOM MIHALEK/AFP via Getty Images) /

Randy Wolf

It’s unfortunate that Randy Wolf, a guy who pitched for so many bad Phillies teams, couldn’t be a member of the team that ultimately won it all.

Wolf was originally drafted by the Phillies in the 2nd round of the 1997 MLB June Amateur Draft from Pepperdine University in Malibu, California. Like Myers, Wolf jumped into the big leagues quickly, making his major league debut about two years after he was drafted.

In his first three starts Wolf allowed only four earned runs and struck out 21 batters in 20.2 innings. As a rookie he’d strike out 116 batters in 22 games, all but one being a start. His 116 strikeouts were the seventh most for a Phillies rookie pitcher since 1920.

Over his next four seasons Wolf won double-digit games and twice led the team in wins, including a 16-win All-Star season in 2003. In 2004 he pitched the first game

Tommy John surgery cost Wolf several more successful seasons in Philadelphia and he moved on from the team as a player in 2007. He’d go on to pitch for the Dodgers, Brewers, Orioles, Marlins, Astros, Padres, and Tigers and win 133 games in 16 seasons.

During the 2000s Wolf was second among all Phillies pitchers with 63 wins, 11 complete games,  and seven shutouts. The eight shutouts he tossed during the decade were tied for sixth in all of baseball.

In 2016 Wolf retired as a member of the Phillies and recognized the fan base and his unique fan section “The Wolf Pack.”

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