The Philadelphia Phillies were busy combing the waiver wire on Saturday afternoon and made a minor transaction. The team announced that they claimed right-handed pitcher Freddy Tarnok from the Oakland Athletics.
Tarnok, 25, was on the 60-day IL, after beginning the season on the injured list with right hip inflammation, but is obviously healthy now, as the Phillies reinstated him to report to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies have claimed RHP Freddy Tarnok off waivers from the Oakland Athletics. He has been reinstated from the 60-day injured list and optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA). To make room for Tarnok on the 40-man roster, RHP Dylan Covey was transferred to the 60-day injured list.
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 1, 2024
Phillies claim former Braves top prospect from A's, shuffle Dylan Covey to make room
Tarnok, an Atlanta Braves 2017 third-round draft pick (80th overall), was part of the massive trade package that brought catcher Sean Murphy to Atlanta in 2022. He was ranked as high as the Braves' No. 9 prospect by MLB Pipeline in 2022 before being dealt. He was the Athletics’ No. 13 prospect before being claimed by the Phillies.
He pitched only 14 2/3 innings for Oakland in 2023 with a 4.91 ERA in his five multi-innings appearances out of the bullpen. He spent the rest of his time battling numerous injuries (shoulder, arm and calf). He eventually underwent surgery on his right hip last August, which explains why he began the season on the injured list.
Tarnok features a 95 mph four-seam fastball, an 86 mph slider and changeup, and a 80 mph curveball.
Dylan Covey is still not ready to pitch
To make room for Tarnok on the 40-man roster, the Phillies moved right-hander Dylan Covey to the 60-day IL. Covey has been on the shelf since the beginning of March with a right shoulder strain. He had started his recovery but tweaked a hamstring and has been shut down.
After being claimed by the Phillies from the Los Angeles Dodgers in May 2023, Covey pitched well out of the bullpen after a rough start to his Phillies career. He finished the season with a 3.77 ERA in 43 innings.
In the offseason, president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski had pegged the right-hander as someone who the team was hoping could provide some valuable depth for the starting rotation. That obviously hasn't worked out this far.