The Philadelphia Phillies have begun bolstering their bullpen, which needs all the bolstering it can get after their 2021 campaign. They tied the MLB record for blown saves in a single season, matching the 2004 Colorado Rockies’ 34.
One of their first roster moves last week was to acquire Kent Emanuel from the Houston Astros. The Phillies claimed the 29-year-old off waivers on Friday and added him to the 40-man roster.
Before UCL surgery ended his debut season, Emanuel had a 2.55 ERA over 10 appearances for the Astros.
Here are five things to know about the newest pitcher in red pinstripes:
1. Kent Emanuel shares a birthday with one of his new Phillies teammates
Emanuel was born on June 4, 1992. Aaron Nola was born on June 4, 1993. Maybe they can share cupcakes in the clubhouse next spring.
2. Emanuel was suspended for failing a PEDs test
In June 2020, Emanuel was suspended 80 games after a positive test showed trace amounts of DHCMT. But according to the Wall Street Journal, DHCMT isn’t exactly a baseball thing:
"Dehydrochlormethyltestosterone, an anabolic steroid commonly known as oral Turinabol. It’s mostly associated with East Germany’s state-sponsored doping program throughout the 1970s and 1980s, not Major League Baseball in 2020."
For obvious reasons, issues with substance testing are important to Emanuel, who has advocated for new measures for over a year now, including throughout the Olympics and when fellow MLB players and prospects went through similar testing issues. He’s also shared scientific journal pieces about drug testing in sports, as recently as earlier this month, when he retweeted this:
Sports drug testing and the athletes' exposome. October '21 published article on the topic of distinguishing innocent exposure vs. intentional drug use in anti-doping. A very real issue that we've addressed in UFC program rules. https://t.co/4OwOmj37Gq
— Jeff Novitzky (@JeffNovitzkyUFC) November 8, 2021
Emanuel posted an 11-minute Instagram video about the situation, which is worth viewing before you label him a PED user.
The reasoning behind him wearing #0 when he made his big-league debut is pretty epic, too.
Kent Emanuel says he plans to wear No. 0 for the number of games he should have been suspended.
— Brian McTaggart (@brianmctaggart) April 23, 2021
3. Emanuel is challenging Phillies fans to live up to Astros fans
Earlier this week, Emanuel again took to social media, this time to address his new and former teams and their fans:
Thank you H-Town pic.twitter.com/JglY8hQ6S5
— Kent Emanuel (@KentEmanuel) November 22, 2021
4. Emanuel is an animal lover
As he rehabs from season-ending UCL surgery (not Tommy John, though), Emanuel paid a visit to “some fellow rehabbers” at Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Florida.
Went and saw some fellow rehabbers today 🐢 @LoggerheadMC pic.twitter.com/CHa9PIhpOH
— Kent Emanuel (@KentEmanuel) October 5, 2021
5. He’s pals with catcher Garrett Stubbs, who is also a Phillie now
In addition to claiming Emanuel off waivers, the Phillies acquired catcher Garrett Stubbs via trade with the Astros.
Apparently, Stubbs and Emanuel are pals.
I literally love @KentEmanuel
— Garrett Stubbs (@GarrettStubbs) April 23, 2021
Emanuel is also longtime friends with Atlanta Braves pitcher Trevor Kelley. They were roommates at UNC, but will now face off in the NL East.