4 more Phillies players you’ve already forgotten played for the team in 2024
Here are some more Phillies you may have missed in action this past season.
A little earlier in the offseason, we took a look at four players who fans had probably already forgotten played for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 2024 MLB season. Despite their limited time with the club, they played a role in one way or another to help shape the Phillies last year, for better or for worse.
Here, we will take a look at four other players who managed to suit up for the Phillies in 2024, but that may have somehow already left your memory. For some, it actually led to some unexpected outcomes, whereas for others, they likely want to forget that they actually did play for the team.
As a result of their performances, a couple of these players will likely be getting a second chance. But for the other two, their tenure with the Phillies has already officially come to an end.
4 more Phillies players you’ve already forgotten played for the team in 2024
Connor Brogdon
As a former 10th-round selection by Philadelphia back in the 2017 MLB Draft, Connor Brogdon actually had a solid start to his MLB career with the club. After making his debut during the COVID-shortened year, Brogdon strung together four respectable seasons with the Phillies from 2020 to 2023.
Despite seeing some time in the minors along the way, he managed to post a solid 10-7 record with a 3.55 ERA and 1.21 WHIP with 143 strikeouts in 142 innings pitched over 139 appearances during that time frame. More importantly, he was even, at one point in time, a postseason stud for the Phillies during the 2022 MLB playoffs.
However, how quickly things fell apart for the 29-year-old reliever. On a surprisingly short leash for the 2024 season, Brogdon was designated for assignment by the Phillies after just three poor outings to begin the year.
He was promptly traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers just days later and made one appearance with his new club in which he gave up two home runs in one inning of work. Little did he know that one inning would mean a lot more to him in the end. Brogdon landed on the injured list with plantar fasciitis and ended up spending the rest of the season in the Dodgers’ minor league system trying to come back from his injury.
He has now elected free agency after being outrighted by Los Angeles this past week. But for appearing in that one game for the Dodgers this past season, Brogdon gets the distinguished honor of being a World Series champion. Not bad for literally one day’s work.
Buddy Kennedy
Buddy Kennedy was acquired by the Phillies from the Detroit Tigers in a trade back in early June to add some infield depth to the organization. Spending the bulk of the rest of 2024 with their Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley, Kennedy was recalled by the Phillies three times during the final five weeks of the season.
He debuted for the club as a defensive replacement at third in a game against the Miami Marlins on Sept. 6. Kennedy also got his first start as a Phillie on Sept. 13 against the New York Mets and went hitless in three at-bats.
In the end, he appeared in eight games for Philadelphia, recording two hits, one run scored and two RBI for a .182 average and .580 OPS. His time saw him put together some clutch at-bats down the stretch for the Phillies. The Millville, NJ native came up with the biggest hit of his Phillies tenure in the final home series against the Mets:
YEAH BUDDY! pic.twitter.com/H8YOxk6KMJ
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 15, 2024
At just the young age of 26 and having shown some good plate discipline and pop in his bat throughout his minor league career, Kennedy could continue to be a valuable depth piece for the Phillies going forward.
Nick Nelson
Originally a fourth-round pick of the New York Yankees from the 2016 MLB Draft, Nick Nelson was traded to the Phillies during the 2021-22 offseason. Following the trade, Nelson became a key part of the Phillies bullpen during the 2022 season.
Despite showing promise with his strikeout ability by registering 69 punch outs in just 68 2/3 innings pitched over 47 appearances, he often struggled with his command, leading to 36 walks, a 4.85 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP in the process.
In doing so, Nelson no longer became a regular on the Phillies’ major league roster as he spent the bulk of 2023 and 2024 finding his game in the minors. This past season, he made it into only four big league games, posting a 5.06 ERA and 1.88 WHIP, giving up three runs on eight hits with eight strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings of work. Nelson was eventually designated for assignment and outrighted to Triple-A toward the end of the season. Upon the conclusion of the Phillies’ season, he elected for free agency.
Seth Johnson
Finally, we have one of the Phillies' trade deadline acquisitions in right-handed pitching prospect Seth Johnson. Acquired from the Baltimore Orioles along with another prospect, Moises Chace, in exchange for the disgruntled Gregory Soto, Johnson was surprisingly promoted in early September to make his MLB debut with the club.
With the Phillies looking for a viable fifth starter option at the time, his impressive performance in the minors since joining the organization caught the team's attention.
However, Johnson had a start he would rather forget, as he gave up a whopping nine runs on eight hits with three walks and zero strikeouts in just 2 1/3 innings pitched, setting a painful record in the process.
Nevertheless, as a former first-round pick from the 2019 MLB Draft and now currently the Phillies No. 15 prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline, he is full of potential. Johnson should still be given all the opportunity to grow and fully develop, given his proven minor league track record thus far. By the time Johnson starts making big contributions with the Phillies down the road, no one will remember the disastrous debut he once had.
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