Reds’ forgotten prospect might be turning into their biggest surprise

For a while, Connor Phillips has been drifting in the shadows of the Cincinnati Reds’ prospect hierarchy. Once known for his electric stuff and front-line potential, the right-hander had fallen off the radar following a rough 2024 campaign that saw him post an 8.01 ERA over 19 starts with Triple-A Louisville. But the Reds haven’t given up on him — and now, it’s starting to look like that patience is paying off.

Phillips has always had a strong arsenal. Armed with a four-pitch mix, three of them relatively strong. His fastball sits comfortably at 96–97 mph and can touch triple digits with high spin, though last season it wasn’t missing bats the way it should. His breaking ball package includes a tight mid-80s sweeper and a sharp curve, both capable of generating whiffs and tunnels nicely off his heater. His changeup, while a bit behind the others, comes in at 90 mph and could definitely use some more development — but still serviceable. 

After the Reds sent him to the Arizona Fall League to reset following a rocky 2024, Phillips entered the 2025 season with plenty to prove. He began the year on a rehab assignment in High-A Dayton, looking sharp over three outings. But when he returned to Triple-A Louisville, he stumbled out of the gate, giving up four runs over his first 3 ⅓ innings. At that point, it felt like another year with another set of command issues.

Reds prospect Connor Phillips is rebuilding his stock with impressive 2025 campaign

However, since that early hiccup, Phillips has quietly put together one of the more promising turnarounds in the Reds’ system. Over 16 appearances — albeit in a limited sample of 16 innings — he’s posted a 2.81 ERA with 17 strikeouts and a 1.38 WHIP.

He’s not blowing hitters away with dominance, but he’s showing poise, better sequencing, and, most importantly, improved command. The wildness that plagued him in 2024 has been reined in a bit, and his ability to mix his pitches is starting to show strength.

Phillips remains on the Reds’ 40-man roster, which is both a vote of confidence and a sign that the organization still believes in his long-term upside. He’s refining his control, regaining trust in his secondary pitches, and slowly morphing into a viable relief option who could potentially factor into the big-league conversation if the trend continues.

The Reds are a team that’s leaned heavily in developing young pitching talent to fuel its rise, Phillips’ resurgence could be another piece to their puzzle. If he continues to find his rhythm, the Reds may have uncovered another unexpected success story without lifting a finger at the trade table.

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