Phillies demote local rookie hero after surprising first MLB stint

On Saturday, the Philadelphia Phillies made a surprising, yet understandable, roster move in preparation for the upcoming week. The Phillies have selected the contract and called up left-handed pitcher Tyler Gilbert from the Triple-A affiliate Lehigh Valley IronPigs. In a corresponding move, they optioned right-handed pitcher Tyler Phillips back to the minors.

Born in nearby Lumberton, New Jersey, Phillips had spent the past three seasons in the minors with the organization since being claimed off waivers from the Texas Rangers back in 2021. Somehow, he finally got his chance to shine in the majors when his contract was selected back on July 5 and was promoted to join the big league club.

It was a surprising move at the time because Phillips was not among the Phillies’ Top 30 prospects list according to MLB Pipeline, along with the fact that he was putting up just passable numbers with the IronPigs on the season. 

Phillies demote rookie Tyler Phillips after surprising first MLB stint, call up Tyler Gilbert

Nevertheless, as a diehard Phillies fan growing up, Phillips made the most of his chance with a strong start to his MLB career.

In his first four appearances that included three starts, he compiled a stellar 3-0 record with a 1.80 ERA and 0.76 WHIP along with just two walks and 19 strikeouts in 25 innings pitched. That included an incredible complete game, four-hit shutout in just his fourth big league appearance against a strong Cleveland Guardians team.

However, struggled for the most part in his subsequent three starts. Those performances may have played a role in his earlier than expected demotion back to the minors, as he was expected to be either kept in the rotation or moved back down only when Ranger Suárez was set to return. But more likely he was a victim of the numbers game as with an off day for the Phillies on Monday, his spot in the rotation wouldn’t be needed this week with Suárez’s return on the horizon. On the season with the Phillies, Phillips posted a solid 4-1 record with a 5.50 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, with 27 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched.

Gilbert, a former Phillies 2015 sixth-round draft pick, was re-acquired from the Cincinnati Reds back in early May to serve as valuable pitching depth for the organization. He may be best known for throwing a no-hitter in his first career start back in 2021 with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

This season, he has amassed a 4-1 record with a 4.82 ERA and 1.41 WHIP with an impressive 61 strikeouts in just 46 2/3 innings pitched in the minors split between the Reds and Phillies organizations. Now up with the Phillies, manager Rob Thomson says the plan will be to use Gilbert as a bulk reliever, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Scott Lauber.

Phillips will now get to continue to pitch in a regular rotation with Lehigh Valley to help regain his confidence and will hope to get another chance with the big league club in the near future.