Tyler Phillips
It was sure good while it lasted, but the Phillies’ experiment with 26-year-old pitcher Tyler Phillips is likely over. Back when the Phillies summoned Phillips from the minors in early July, it came as a total surprise. After all, he hadn’t sported an ERA below 4.00 since way back during the time when he was still with the Texas Rangers in 2019. On top of that, he was also nowhere to be found among the Phillies’ Top 30 prospects in their minor league system.
Nevertheless, with the valuable opportunity at hand, Phillips made a great first impression with the Phillies. In his first-ever MLB appearance, out of the bullpen, he went four strong innings, giving up just one earned run on three hits with seven strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves on July 7. He continued that success for the rest of the month, including his improbable highlight of pitching a complete game shutout against the Cleveland Guardians on July 27.
However, that was when things fell apart for Phillips in his following four starts, sandwiched by a demotion to the minors in between. He went 1-1 with an abysmal 17.74 ERA and 2.83 WHIP, giving up 23 earned runs, including six home runs in just 11 2/3 innings of work. Despite being one of the two September call-ups for the Phillies, he couldn’t even last beyond the first inning in his lone September start before he was sent back down for good. Consequently, by failing miserably in his brief audition after an unbelievable start, Phillips’ days with the Phillies should be coming to an abrupt end.