The Philadelphia Phillies’ bullpen will look slightly different from a season ago after All-Star reliever Jeff Hoffman and high-leverage right-hander Carlos Estévez signed elsewhere in free agency. The organization signed former Toronto Blue Jays two-time All-Star closer Jordan Romano and veteran swingman Joe Ross to one-year deals.
Bullpen arms such as Orion Kerkering and José Alvarado will have to step up and be counted on in 2025. A surprisingly successful reliever from the 2024 team may also take on a larger role this season. José Ruiz put together an impressive year during his first season with the Phillies, and he seems to have claimed an early stranglehold on a bullpen role with the ball club heading into his second season with the team.
Phillies' José Ruiz claims early stranglehold on 2025 bullpen role
The Phillies signed Ruiz to a minor league contract after the 2023 season. He started the 2024 season in Triple-A, where he had a 1.64 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, one hold, three saves and 13 strikeouts in 11 innings pitched with the IronPigs.
The Phillies selected Ruiz’s contract on May 3 and the right-hander debuted with the team the following day, pitching two scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants.
The Phillies’ new-look bullpen heading into the 2025 season has different roles up for grabs. Ruiz has had a strong start to spring training, pitching four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and only two hits allowed. The 30-year-old is out of minor league options, so he’ll have to continue to perform at a high level to stay on the Phillies’ roster.
Ruiz was primarily a middle-to-late-inning reliever for the Phillies, but he was brought in earlier in games a handful of times throughout the season in certain situations. Although not used more than one inning often, Ruiz proved he could pitch more than an inning if needed.
After seven relatively lackluster major league seasons, including six with the Chicago White Sox, Ruiz produced a top-two season of his career with the Phillies. He had a 5-1 record with a 3.71 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, one save in one opportunity and recorded 52 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched. Ruiz was a pleasant surprise and an important piece in the Phillies’ bullpen.