Two former Phillies pitchers were removed from their American League East team’s 40-man rosters last week.
A couple of former Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitchers — Thomas Eshelman and Robert Stock — were respectively designated for assignment last week by the American League East’s Baltimore Orioles and Boston Red Sox.
Eshelman’s designation was to open an Orioles 40-man roster spot for1B/OF Chris Shaw, claimed off waivers from the San Francisco Giants. Stock, meanwhile, was designated to clear a Red Sox 40-man roster spot for RHP Joel Payamps, claimed from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Thomas Eshelman was one of the Phillies’ acquisitions in the Ken Giles trade.
Just months after he was drafted in the second round of the 2015 draft by the Houston Astros, Eshelman, Vince Velasquez, and three other players were dealt to the Phillies in exchange for closer Ken Giles and a minor-leaguer.
The Carlsbad, California, native showed promise in his first two seasons in the Phillies’ minor league system going a combined 22-10 across 47 starts. He, along with current Phillies utility player Scott Kingery, were honored as the Phillies’ 2017 Paul Owens Award winners for being their farm system’s top pitcher and hitter, respectively.
Then, in 2018, Eshelman struggled with a 2-13 record and 5.84 ERA through 27 appearances and 26 starts. In June 2019, he was ultimately dealt to the Baltimore Orioles for international bonus slot money.
Across 22 appearances and eight starts with the Orioles in the majors, the right-hander posted a 5.22 ERA, 1.429 WHIP, and a 38-20 strikeouts-to-walks ratio across 70 2/3 innings. One of his four career wins to date came against the Phillies this past August at Citizens Bank Park; in five innings Eshelman yielded just four hits, two runs, and no walks, while striking out two of his 19 batters faced. The Orioles won the game, 11-4.
Robert Stock did not make the 2020 Opening Day roster out of summer camp.
The Phillies claimed Stock off waivers from the San Diego Padres on Halloween 2019, taking a chance on him after he finished that season on the 60-day injured list due to a strained biceps muscle.
At that point in his career, the reliever had appeared in 42 games across two seasons for the Padres, going 2-1 with a 4.11 ERA, 1.430 WHIP, and a 53-21 strikeouts-to-walks ratio spanning 50 1/3 innings.
Stock reported to spring training in February and soon after underwent tests for right forearm tightness. Then came summer camp, and in mid-July, the veteran was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, before being designated for assignment shortly before Opening Day against the Miami Marlins. The Red Sox claimed and later promoted Stock in early August for his team debut.
Stock, now 31, posted a 0-1 record, 4.73 ERA, .320/.426/.400 opposing slash, and a 14-10 strikeouts-to-walks ratio through 10 appearances and 13 1/3 innings this past season in the majors. The Red Sox went just 1-9 in games in which he appeared.