With the 2025 MLB Draft now officially in the books, the Philadelphia Phillies have made all of their 20 selections, including their impressive first-round pick of college pitcher Gage Wood. As Phillies fans turn their attention to the second half, is there a chance that they could see the No. 26 overall pick rise to the majors and play a role in the bullpen down the stretch?
This core group of veteran Phillies players will be heading into perhaps their most important two and a half months of regular season baseball once the schedule gets going again on Friday. Despite ending the first half at the top of the National League East, hanging onto a half-game lead over the New York Mets, the bullpen remains a gigantic concern for the remainder of the season.
Jordan Romano or Joe Ross on thin ice after Phillies draft Gage Wood in first round
Could Wood take a job from one of the Phillies' underachieving veteran free agent bullpen signings, like Jordan Romano or Joe Ross? Manager Rob Thomson has continued running both one-year signings out there despite repeated problems getting consistent results. It's not like Thomson has any other option; the bullpen is thin, especially since José Alvarado's PED suspension.
Despite suffering a shoulder impingement that limited him to 10 starts with the Arkansas Razorbacks, Wood threw a no-hitter in the College World Series in his final college start. The Phillies' first-round pick is a steal, and they need bullpen help. Could this be a perfect fit, with Wood returning to a familiar role as a reliever before reverting back to a starting role next year?
Phillies assistant general manager of amateur scouting Brian Barber said that the team doesn't expect Wood to help the Phillies this season, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki, but you can never really tell how fast a prospect might move through the system until they get there.
“I don’t think it’s ever really easy to predict how fast a person is going to have the ability to move,” Barber said, per Zolecki. “I do know he has the potential to move quickly, just because he does the two things: it’s already more ‘now’ stuff that you don’t have to project a ton on.
With one of the best fastballs in the draft, it sits at 94-96 mph and can reach 98. He can get elite chase and whiffs, according to his MLB Pipeline scouting report, which grades his heater at 70 on the 20-80 scale. His power 82-85 mph curveball could also become a plus pitch.
“It’s a guy that can just dominate hitters through the lineup with two pitches,” Barber said, per Zolecki. “We see him as a starter. You see those dominating two pitches and people are going to automatically think, ‘Move to the bullpen.’ But this is a guy who’s shown the ability to do it.”
Romano, who signed for $8.5 million, sports an ugly 7.26 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 33 1/3 innings. Even though the former two-time All-Star has put together a few stretches of effective relief, he has been prone to some absolutely massive implosions. After not allowing a run over a two-week span, the 32-year-old finished the first half with a couple of blow-up outings and has a 13.50 ERA in five appearances since June 28.
Ross, also 32, has a 5.40 ERA and 1.49 WHIP in 41 2/3 innings after signing on for $4 million. He hasn't come close to replicating the impressive 2024 season he had in the Milwaukee Brewers' bullpen.
If the Phillies decide to move on from either struggling reliever, it wouldn't be a huge surprise. If Wood wants to be in play for a major league debut this season, the path is there for him to take it. He'll have to perform to prove himself, however.