4 players you’ve already forgotten played for the Phillies in 2024

During the 2024 MLB season, the Philadelphia Phillies had many players that helped contribute to their solid 95-67 record during the regular season. In doing so, the Phillies managed to capture their first NL East division title since 2011.

Whether it was the stars like Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, or whether it was some of the lesser lights, every player that played at least a game for Philadelphia during 2024 chipped in in some way to lead the team to their final results.

However, some of those players appeared for such a short time with the Phillies this past year that you've probably already forgotten that they had actually played for the team in 2024. Let’s take a look at four of those players and what they managed to accomplish with Philadelphia this past season.

4 players you’ve already forgotten played for the Phillies in 2024

Ricardo Pinto

If the Phillies faithful will remember one thing about right-hander Ricardo Pinto, it will probably be how he made his debut with the club this season. He was called up just hours before the game on April 2 against the Cincinnati Reds, having to fight through transportation issues just to get to the ballpark.

Pinto ultimately entered the game in the sixth inning and gave up two earned runs on five hits with four strikeouts over four innings to earn his first career save in a gutsy debut performance.

However, he only lasted a few weeks with the Phillies after subsequent sub-par outings. Pinto finished with a 10.97 ERA and 2.25 WHIP, with eight strikeouts in 10 2/3 innings pitched over six relief appearances and was designated for assignment in late April to make room for Taijuan Walker coming off the IL.

Pinto was outrighted to Lehigh Valley and stuck around as organizational pitching depth. That was until mid-August when the Phillies officially cut ties with him as he was among multiple minor league roster cuts made by the club in the aftermath of the trade deadline.

Aramis Garcia

Signed to a minor league deal back during the 2022-23 offseason, Aramis Garcia served as valuable catching depth for the Phillies for the past couple of seasons. Having played the entire 2023 season in the minors, Garcia finally got his shot with the Phillies in 2024 when starting catcher J.T. Realmuto went down with a knee contusion after fouling a ball off his left knee on Sept. 6.

During the week of Realmuto’s absence, Garcia appeared in three games, including two starts. However, he failed to make a strong impression as he went hitless in seven at-bats with three strikeouts, along with grounding into a double play. Garcia ended up being designated for assignment in mid-September with the reinstatement of Alec Bohm from the 10-day IL.

Michael Mercado

Michael Mercado was part of the early 2023-24 offseason action by the Phillies when he was acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for Adam Leverett and cash considerations. Given his potential and strong minor league season with Lehigh Valley, he has moved all the way up to No. 19 on the Phillies’ top prospects list according to MLB Pipeline. In doing so, his stellar performance gave him more than one opportunity with the big league club over the course of the 2024 season.

However, Mercado produced disastrous outings in three of his five appearances and he failed to stick in the majors as a result. In those five games, including two starts, he compiled a 1-2 record with an 11.08 ERA and 1.92 WHIP, along with 10 strikeouts in 13 innings pitched.

Mercado still has the stuff to be a successful pitcher in the big leagues, but he wasn’t quite ready just yet last season. Nevertheless, his future still appears bright with the Phillies.

Luis Ortiz

Finally, we have Luis Ortiz, who could have been one of the key members of the Phillies’ bullpen heading into the 2024 season. The right-hander showed some glimpses of promise in 2023 when he posted a solid 3.32 ERA over 14 relief appearances with the Phillies, along with a 4-1 record with a 4.60 ERA and 1.13 WHIP with 45 strikeouts in 45 innings over 33 appearances with Lehigh Valley.

Added to the fact that he had a strong spring training in 2024, during which time he amassed a solid 2.70 ERA and 0.80 WHIP with 10 strikeouts in 10 innings over nine appearances, he appeared poised for a breakout season with the Phillies this past season.

However, things sure did not go to plan. In his season debut, Ortiz left the game with a sprained ankle after giving up two earned runs on three hits in just 2/3 of an inning. What appeared to be just a minor injury would spiral into a flurry of ailments, including his shoulder and forearm, that ended up setting back his recovery process week after week and eventually month after month.

By mid-July, the worst possible news hit when Ortiz had to undergo season-ending Tommy John surgery on his right elbow and will likely be out for the majority of 2025 as well. If that wasn’t bad enough, his tenure with the organization officially came to an end in early November when he was outrighted by the Phillies and became a free agent.

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