The Philadelphia Phillies need relief pitching, everyone knows that. So when they announced that they'd claimed right-hander Ryan Cusick off waivers last weekend, intrepid media members and fans alike likely took to FanGraphs and Baseball Reference to see how much help the 25-year-old could potentially provide the Phillies' bullpen this year.
It looks like the Phillies' latest addition will need some work.
The Phillies plucked Cusick from the Chicago White Sox after he was designated for assignment on June 6. They added him to the 40-man roster and optioned him to the Florida Complex League. To make room, the Phillies DFA'd right-hander Kyle Tyler.
The Phillies have claimed RHP Ryan Cusick off waivers from the Chicago White Sox and have optioned him to the Florida Complex League. RHP Kyle Tyler has been designated for assignment.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 8, 2025
Don't expect Phillies' latest waiver claim, Ryan Cusick, to help the bullpen any time soon
Taken from Wake Forest with the 24th pick in the first round of the 2021 MLB Draft by the rival Atlanta Braves, Cusick has already made the rounds in his pro baseball career. He had a brief stint in Atlanta's system before being dealt to the Athletics in the Matt Olson trade ahead of the 2022 season. This season, he has already been claimed off waivers by the Detroit Tigers, followed by the White Sox just two days before he was DFA'd.
Over five seasons in the minors, Cusick has a 5.20 ERA and 1.61 WHIP with 248 strikeouts in 238 2/3 innings. He has appeared in 17 games at the Triple-A level, and the results aren't exactly inspiring, pitching to an 8.34 ERA and 2.25 WHIP.
The 6-foot-6 Cusick was drafted with a big plus fastball that touched 100 mph, but there were concerns about his ability to consistently command his stuff (subscription required), according to a Baseball America scouting report. That has born out to a 5.8 BB/9 over his minor league career.
Ryan Cusick, 99mph ⛽️ pic.twitter.com/mNUWRO7Aew
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) March 19, 2021
He was drafted with a curveball and changeup, but his newer slider showed promise, per his MLB Pipeline scouting report. There's thought that his power fast-slider combination will play well out of the bullpen, but the results this season have caused multiple organizations to view him as expendable. In 15 2/3 innings, he has a 6.32 ERA and 1.85 WHIP over 14 Triple-A relief appearances.
He has logged just 11 strikeouts and a whopping 14 walks so far this season, which is likely why the Phillies opted to send him to Florida. It's highly likely they want to get him in the pitching lab and figure out whether his once promising stuff is salvageable.
As for the Phillies' shakily thin bullpen at the major league level, which has recently shed Carlos Hernández and José Ruiz, don't expect Cusick to help out any time soon.