Phillies to face ex-prospect Tom Eshelman, O’s on July 19
By Matt Rappa
The Phillies will oppose one of their former prospects in Sunday’s exhibition game against the Orioles
When the Philadelphia Phillies take on the Baltimore Orioles in their second of three exhibition games, Sunday, July 19, at Citizens Bank Park, they will be facing a familiar face.
With Orioles starting pitcher John Means having a “little bit of dead arm,” the Orioles will turn to right-handed starting pitcher Tom Eshelman, according to The Baltimore Sun’s Jon Meoli.
Eshelman, 26, is a former Phillies top 30-ranked prospect who was acquired from the Houston Astros, along with Mark Appel, Vince Velasquez, Brett Oberholtzer, and Harold Arauz, in exchange for Ken Giles and Jonathan Arauz in December 2015. He is currently in Orioles summer camp on their player pool as as non-roster invitee.
Anthony Santander and Dwight Smith Jr aren't going to tomorrow's exhibition game. The Orioles will throw Thomas Eshelman, Miguel Castro, Cody Carroll, Tanner Scott and Cole Sulser against the Phillies.
— Joe Trezza (@JoeTrezz) July 18, 2020
The Carlsbad, California, native’s best year in the Phillies system came in 23 combined starts in 2017 between the Double- and Triple-A levels, where he went 13-3 with a 2.40 ERA. But, just a year later, his success essentially turned upside down, going 2-13 with a 5.84 ERA across 27 appearances and 26 starts solely at Triple-A in 2018.
Last June, the Phillies dealt Eshelman to the Orioles in exchange for international bonus slot money. The right-hander went on to make his big-league debut the following month. Overall in 10 appearances and four starts at the big-league level, he went 1-2 with a 6.50 ERA, 22-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 1.611 WHIP across 36 innings.
Means was previously named the O’s starting pitcher, and it appears they are taking an abundance of caution with less than a week until the season gets underway.
Expected No. 2 starter Zack Wheeler will receive the starting nod for the Phillies.
The game against the Orioles can be seen and heard on NBC Sports Philadelphia and SportsRadio 94 WIP, with a first pitch set for 6:05 p.m.
The Phillies and Aaron Nola are taking on the Washington Nationals Saturday evening at Nationals Park; their last of three exhibition games will be against manager Joe Girardi‘s former team, the New York Yankees, Monday evening in the Bronx.