Connor Phillips' latest dud is further proof of why he'll never join Reds rotation

The Louisville Bats won a thriller on Tuesday night against the Iowa Cubs. The Cincinnati Reds' Triple-A affiliate outlasted the opponent by a final of 11-10 with Sam Benschoter getting the win for the Bats. But Benschoter didn't start the game. That honor fell to Connor Phillips.

The Reds prospect, who's endured a horrific 2024 campaign, went just 3.2 innings, threw 87 pitches, and allowed just one run. Phillips also struck out seven batters. So what's there to complain about? Sure, you'd like your starter to go deeper into the game, but allowing just one run and punching out seven is a pretty good line.

It would be, if he didn't walk four batters. In what's become a theme for Phillips on the season, the right-hander issued four free passes on Tuesday night. It's the ninth time in 18 starts this season that Phillips has allowed four or more walks. Phillips' latest outing is just another reminder of why he'll never return to the Reds starting rotation.

Connor Phillips' latest dud is further proof of why he'll never join Reds rotation

Phillips infamously walked three St. Louis Cardinals batters during the 161st game of the season in 2023. The rookie did so on just 12 pitches. That's right. Unfortunately, every one of Phillips' pitches were outside the strike zone. Phillips' struggles allowed the Cardinals to put up a boatload of runs during the first inning, effectively ending Cincinnati's playoff hopes last season.

Phillips has never seemed to recover from that performance. The right-hander began his 2024 season at Triple-A and looked sharp during his first game. Phillips went six innings, and though he walked three during his 2024 debut at Triple-A Louisville, he allowed just one run. But as the season waned, so did Phillips' ability to find the strike zone. Things got so bad that Phillips was sent out to the Reds' team complex in Arizona in order to get his mechanics back in order. Sadly, it hasn't helped.

Phillips now has 60 walks on the season and just 68 punch outs. Not only is the 16.4% walk rate obscene, but Phillips strikeout rate has dropped nearly 15 points from his time in the minor leagues last season. Phillips looks lost.

Reds Country is hopeful that Phillips can regain his confidence and his command. Until he does, the 23-year-old is destined to remain in the minors. If Phillips can't get straighten out heading into next spring, the Reds may well shift the right-hander into a relief role moving forward.

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