Kent Emanuel wants to prove the Astros made a mistake
Newest Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Kent Emanuel has a chip on his shoulder and a bone to pick with his former team.
After the Houston Astros placed him on waivers, the Phillies claimed the 29-year-old pitcher and added him to their 40-man roster on Friday.
On Sunday, Emanuel took to social media to say goodbye to the Astros and hello to the Phillies:
Thank you H-Town pic.twitter.com/JglY8hQ6S5
— Kent Emanuel (@KentEmanuel) November 22, 2021
Emanuel had nothing but kind words for “‘Stros fans,” his teammates, coaches, and staff, but he made his feelings about the front office’s decision to place him on waivers crystal-clear:
"“I am excited for this new opportunity. I look forward to demonstrating that putting me on waivers was a rare mistake made by a top-tier organization. And more importantly, I look forward to contributing to many Phillies wins!”"
This isn’t the first chip on Emanuel’s shoulder. He failed a PEDs test in June 2020 that resulted in an 80-game suspension. The slightest trace amounts of a substance he maintained he never used were detected in his test, damaging his career and reputation. When he did eventually make his debut in April 2021, he opted to wear #0 as his big-league uniform number; zero, as in the number of games he thinks he should have been suspended.
Overall, Emanuel seems to feel he has a lot to prove to everyone and a lot of doubters to silence. In that way, he’ll fit right in with his new teammates, especially the disrespected Zack Wheeler and uber-motivated Bryce Harper.
If Emanuel wants to make his former team regret losing him, he’ll get the chance soon enough. The Phillies open the season on the road, playing their first three games of the 2022 season against none other than the Astros.
Hopefully, Emanuel can channel this frustration into great pitching, something the Phillies bullpen desperately needs.