Reds might be one fix away from unlocking a dominant version of Connor Phillips

Cincinnati Reds reliever Connor Phillips recorded his first career save against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night, but it wasn't easy. Phillips came on in relief of Graham Ashcraft during the ninth inning with the Reds up 2-0, and while it was certainly an adventure, he got the job done.

Phillips was wildly erratic and walked the Pirates first batter, Marcell Ozuna, and four straight pitches — none of which were anywhere close to the plate. He got a generous first-pitch strike against the next batter, Pittsburgh outfielder Ryan O'Hearn, but still managed to walk him seven pitches later.

A quick visit from pitching coach Derek Johnson and some encouragement from his battery mate Tyler Stephenson helped Phillips lock in. He struck out Pirates infielder Jared Triolo on three pitches and then induced back-to-back fly outs to end Pittsburgh's rally.

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It was certainly a taste of what's to come for the young fireballer, but he'll need to gain better command of his fastball before he's trusted to take on that role with more regularity.

Thankfully the Reds have two other reliable options at the backend of the bullpen. Both Emilio Pagán and Tony Santillan have operated as the team's closer in the past, and even Pierce Johnson has experience on the mound during the ninth inning with a lead. All three, however, pitched in the previous game, and it seemed as though Terry Francona wanted to see what Phillips was made of.

Phillips has a top-notch fastball that sits near 98 mph, but it's that devastating sweeper that has caught the eye of fans during the early part of the 2026 season. That pitch has already made numerous batters look foolish at the outset, and is virtually un-hittable.

Phillips' talent has never been in question. His ability to keep the bases clear of free runners, however, has always been a concern. The ninth inning on Monday was a reminder that he hasn't conquered those demons just yet, but if Phillips can harness the command of his heater, he'll quickly become a weapon for Francona late in games.