Matt Osterberg, LHP
Starting pitching depth is the most important luxury any winning organization can possess over the course of a season. The Phillies saw that need tested repeatedly in 2023 when injuries and tired arms created openings for guys like Matt Stram and Christopher Sánchez to enter the rotation.
There's still a possibility the Phillies are sitting quietly and waiting to jump on a free agent starter in what has been a slow offseason for the franchise to date. With Andrew Painter still recovering from Tommy John surgery, Mick Abel likely to get a longer look at Triple-A, and Griff McGarry coming off of a 2023 that saw mixed results, who else could start games for the Phillies next season?
Left-handed starting pitcher Matt Osterberg is a name to keep in mind. The 15th-round selection by the Phillies in the 2021 Draft has begun to turn heads after a solid 2023 split between High-A Jersey Shore and Double-A Reading.
Entering his fourth professional season in 2024, Osterberg is the latest reminder that players drafted in deeper rounds can thrive under the right player development programs. Following a season where the 24-year-old pitched to a 9-6 record with 106 strikeouts and a 3.52 ERA in 122 2/3 innings, Osterberg was more than deserving of being named an Organization All-Star.
Timeline: Matt Osterberg seems to have a good chance at opening the 2024 season with Double-A Reading or could possibly make the jump to Triple-A Lehigh Valley if he shows he can handle more advanced hitters during Spring Training.
The earliest we'll likely see Osterberg in a Phillies uniform would be late next season if injuries or rest are required in the big league rotation or other top pitching prospects fail to show enough to occupy that role. 2025 would seem to be the year Osterberg could get his real chance if his progress at the minor league level remains steady.