It's been a forgettable journey for former Atlanta Braves right-hander Bryse Wilson, who once stole the show against the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 4 of the 2020 NLCS. Wilson tossed 6 innings against the eventual World Series champions, only giving up 1 run while striking out 5. That outing has proved to be the anomaly for Wilson, who has struggled in the years since, but has now become the Philadelphia Phillies' next reclamation project.
The New York Post's Jon Heyman reported on Friday that the Phillies have signed Wilson, though the MLB insider didn't specify whether it is a major league or minor league deal. The Phillies have several openings on their 40-man roster, so they can easily slide Wilson in as a major league arrival, but his 2025 season with the Chicago White Sox would suggest that it should be a minor league pact with an invite to spring training.
Phillies sign Bryse Wilson, who was once an unsung hero for the Atlanta Braves.
Appearing in 20 games with one of the league's worst teams last season, Wilson posted an ERA of 6.65 with a lowly strikeout rate of 12.5%. It's worth pointing out that the White Sox overhauled their coaching staff this offseason, including parting ways with pitching coach Ethan Katz.
In what has become a trend for teams across Major League Baseball, the White Sox weren't finding success with their development plan for veteran pitchers, and Wilson was the latest example of that. Especially because the 27-year-old veteran did flash some success with the Milwaukee Brewers in 2023. He posted an ERA of 2.58 in 53 appearances while striking out over 19% of the hitters he faced.
If the Phillies can get Wilson back to that level of production, even though he did carry a 4.13 FIP, he could be an ideal swing-man pitching out of the bullpen for Philadelphia next season. He may never be the pitcher he was on that October night for the Braves in 2020, but with this Phillies' pitching staff, he doesn't need to be.
And, hey, if he turns into a success story, it would be fun to seem him dominate against the Braves.