Reds call up forgotten prospect ahead of crucial Cardinals showdown

According to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer, the Reds plan to activate former top prospect Connor Phillips ahead of the upcoming series in St. Louis. Phillips hasn't pitched in the big leagues since 2023.

The right-hander was added to the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster for the team's stretch run in 2023. In fact, many Reds fans will remember that Phillips' last big-league start came in St. Louis during Cincinnati's postseason push. Phillips walked the first three Cardinals' hitters he faced on 12 straight pitches and was promptly removed the game. Cincinnati lost the game, and with it, their playoff aspirations.

The Reds no longer see Phillips as a starter, and in fact, he's been working out of the Louisville Bats bullpen in Triple-A. Phillips owns a 3.21 ERA in 14 innings of work for the Bats this season and has allowed only one run in his last 10 outings.

Reds call up forgotten prospect Connor Phillips ahead of crucial Cardinals showdown

Phillips was part of the Reds' blockbuster trade in 2022 that sent Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez to the Seattle Mariners. In return, the Reds received Jake Fraley, Brandon Williamson, Justin Dunn, and a player to be named later. That player turned out to be Phillips.

At the time, many scouts viewed the right-hander as a high-upside talent with plenty of reliever risk. As it turns out, those assessments were correct. While Phillips possesses an electric fastball that can touch 99-plus on the radar gun, he lacks command and control.

This was evident last season when the Reds were forced to ship Phillips to the Arizona Complex League following his horrid start at Triple-A. In 14 games, Phillips went 2-6 with a 10.11 ERA and 50 walks in 57 innings pitched. After returning from the team's complex in Goodyear, Phillips turned in a more respectable 2.49 ERA over his final five outings at Triple-A last season.

The Cincinnati bullpen has been worn down of late, and after Nick Martinez's short outing on Thursday, the Reds could use some quality innings from Phillips during the upcoming series against the Cardinals. Cincinnati trails St. Louis by one game in the standings, as both teams are battling for a spot in the NL Wild Card picture.

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