Connor Phillips

Connor Phillips
Cincinnati Reds – No. 34
Pitcher
Born: (2001-05-04) May 4, 2001 (age 23)
Houston, Texas, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 5, 2023, for the Cincinnati Reds
MLB statistics
(through 2023 season)
Win–loss record1–1
Earned run average6.97
Strikeouts26
Teams

Connor Allan Phillips (born May 4, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.

Amateur career

Phillips attended Magnolia West High School in Magnolia, Texas, where he played baseball and went 12–3 with a 1.13 ERA and 125 strikeouts over 92+2⁄3 innings as a senior in 2019.[1] He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 35th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign.[2] He had originally signed to play college baseball for the LSU Tigers, but instead enrolled at McLennan Community College so he would be eligible for the draft after his freshman year.[3] As a freshman at McLennan in 2020, he made six starts and went 3–1 with a 3.16 ERA over 25+2⁄3 innings before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4]

Professional career

Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners selected Phillips with the 64th overall selection of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.[5] He signed for $1.1 million.[6][7] He made his professional debut in 2021 with the Modesto Nuts and was promoted to the Everett AquaSox at the season's end.[8] Over 17 starts between the two clubs, he went 7–4 with a 4.62 ERA, 111 strikeouts, and 46 walks over 76 innings.[9]

Cincinnati Reds

On March 29, 2022, the Mariners sent Phillips to the Cincinnati Reds as the player to be named later from an earlier trade that also sent Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley, and Brandon Williamson to the Reds in exchange for Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez.[10] He was assigned to the Dayton Dragons to open the 2022 season.[11] In late June, he was promoted to the Chattanooga Lookouts.[12] Over 24 starts between the two teams, Philips went 5–8 with a 3.78 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 109+2⁄3 innings.[13]

Phillips returned to Chattanooga to open the 2023 season.[14] In late June, Phillips was promoted to the Louisville Bats.[15] In 25 games (24 starts) between the two affiliates, he logged a cumulative 4–5 record and 3.86 ERA with 154 strikeouts in 105.0 innings of work. On September 2, 2023, Phillips was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Brandon Williamson was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.[16] In 5 starts during his rookie campaign, he struggled to a 6.97 ERA with 26 strikeouts across 20+2⁄3 innings pitched.

Phillips was optioned to Triple–A Louisville to begin the 2024 season.[17]

References

  1. ^ "BASEBALL: Who should be the Courier's Player of the Year?". June 23, 2019.
  2. ^ "MLB DRAFT: County players Phillips, Moss and Dias selected in late rounds Wednesday". June 5, 2019.
  3. ^ "Magnolia West alum Connor Phillips chasing dream with Mariners". June 12, 2020.
  4. ^ "Mariners sign right-hander Connor Phillips — the last of their 2020 draft picks | the Spokesman-Review".
  5. ^ "Seattle Mariners select MCC pitcher Connor Phillips with 64th overall pick". June 12, 2020.
  6. ^ "Mariners complete Draft signings with Phillips". MLB.com.
  7. ^ Smith, Lauren (June 29, 2020). "Mariners wrap up draft signings with pitcher Connor Phillips". Tacoma News Tribune. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  8. ^ "Five Mariners minor leaguers who helped themselves most in 2021".
  9. ^ "Mariners Excited to See What Connor Phillips Can do in 2022".
  10. ^ "Reactions: Connor Phillips joins Reds as player to be named later in trade with Mariners".
  11. ^ "Dragons Announce 2022 Roster".
  12. ^ "Reds' Connor Phillips: Pushed to Double-A". June 27, 2022.
  13. ^ "Tyler Callihan Stats, Fantasy & News".
  14. ^ "Where the Reds' Top 30 prospects are starting season". MLB.com.
  15. ^ "Reds' Connor Phillips: Promoted to Triple-A". June 26, 2023.
  16. ^ "Reds' Connor Phillips: Added as substitute". cbssports.com. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  17. ^ "Reds' Connor Phillips: Sent down to Triple-A". cbssports.com. Retrieved March 16, 2024.