Evan Phillips

Evan Phillips
Phillips with the Laconia Muskrats in 2013
Los Angeles Dodgers – No. 59
Pitcher
Born: (1994-09-11) September 11, 1994 (age 29)
Salisbury, Maryland, U.S.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 3, 2018, for the Atlanta Braves
MLB statistics
(through April 25, 2024)
Win–loss record11–11
Earned run average3.25
Strikeouts235
Saves34
Teams

Evan John Phillips (born September 11, 1994) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Rays.

Career

Amateur career

Phillips attended Clayton High School in Clayton, North Carolina and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 33rd round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft, but did not sign.[1] He attended the University of North Carolina at Wilmington and played college baseball for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks.[2] In 37 college appearances, he was 6–6 with a 5.07 ERA.[3]

Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves selected Phillips in the 17th round of the 2015 Major League Baseball draft[2] and he spent his first professional season with the Danville Braves and Rome Braves,[4] going a combined 2-3 with a 2.73 ERA in 29+2⁄3 total relief innings pitched.[3] In 2016, he pitched for the Carolina Mudcats and Mississippi Braves, pitching to a combined 8-4 record and 3.02 ERA in 43 relief appearances between both teams,[3] and after the season played in the Arizona Fall League for the Salt River Rafters.[3] Phillips played 2017 with Mississippi and the Gwinnett Braves, going a combined 3-4 with a 6.14 ERA in 51.1 total innings pitched,[3] and started 2018 with Gwinnett Stripers.[5]

Phillips was called up by the Braves on June 23, 2018.[6] He returned to the Stripers on June 25, without making a major league appearance.[7] He was recalled on July 2 and made his major league debut the next day.[8][9] In his debut he pitched 2+1⁄3 innings, striking out Kyle Higashioka but yielding a home run.[9][10] In the Braves organization in 2018, he pitched in 31 games for Gwinnett to a 1.99 ERA in 40+2⁄3 innings[3] and in four games for Atlanta, allowing six runs in 6+1⁄3 innings.[1]

Baltimore Orioles

On July 31, 2018, the Braves traded Phillips, Jean Carlos Encarnacion, Brett Cumberland, Bruce Zimmermann and international signing money to the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Kevin Gausman and Darren O'Day.[11] He made five appearances for the Orioles in 2018, allowing 11 earned runs in only 5+1⁄3 innings[1] and eight appearances for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides, where he allowed four runs in 10+1⁄3 innings.[3]

Phillips split 2019 between Norfolk and Baltimore, appearing in 25 games for the Orioles (20 runs in 28 innings)[1] and 27 games for the Tides (17 runs in 39+2⁄3 innings.[3] In the pandemic shortened 2020 season, Phillips pitched to a 5.02 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 14+1⁄3 innings pitched in 14 games.[12] On September 30th, he was outrighted off of the 40-man roster but remained with Norfolk.[13]

In 2021, Phillips made 18 appearances for the Tides and had a 5.04 ERA with 35 strikeouts.[3] On August 2, he was released by the Orioles.[14]

Tampa Bay Rays

On August 3, 2021, Phillips signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays[15] and on August 12, he was called up to the majors.[16] He made his Rays debut on August 13, pitching three innings and giving up one run, while earning his first career save.[1] The following day, he was designated for assignment.[17]

Los Angeles Dodgers

On August 16, 2021, the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed Phillips off of waivers.[18] He made his debut for the Dodgers three days later, pitching 2+1⁄3 innings in relief against the New York Mets and getting his first win as a Dodger.[19] He pitched in a total of seven games for the Dodgers in 2021, allowing four earned runs in 10+1⁄3 innings.[1] He also pitched three scoreless innings over two games in the 2021 NLCS against the Atlanta Braves, allowing only one hit and two walks while striking out six.[1]

In 2022, Phillips pitched in a team-high 64 games and had a 7–3 record and 1.14 ERA.[1] He became the Dodgers closer in 2023[20] and recorded 24 saves in 61+1⁄3 innings over 62 games while posting a 2.05 ERA.[1]

Phillips and the Dodgers agreed to a $4 million salary for 2024 in salary arbitration.[21]

Personal life

Phillips’ father, Joe played baseball at Anne Arundel Community College.[22] In April 2023, Phillips and his wife Elizabeth had their first child, a son.[23]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Evan Phillips Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved October 7, 2021.
  2. ^ a b Best, D. Clay (June 12, 2015). "Clayton's Evan Phillips drafted by Atlanta Braves". The News and Observer. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Evan Phillips Amateur, College & Minor League Statistics". Baseball Reference. Retrieved January 8, 2024.
  4. ^ "Ex-UNCW Phillips minds his business with Braves". Star News. August 31, 2015. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  5. ^ Marcovitch, Max E. (June 20, 2018). "Phillips enjoying career season in Gwinnett, not dwelling on potential promotion". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  6. ^ Burns, Gabriel (June 24, 2018). "Evan Phillips 'always believed' he'd be major leaguer". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 27, 2018.
  7. ^ McElhaney, Tori (June 27, 2018). "With Folty activated, Phillips back to Triple-A". MLB.com. Retrieved June 25, 2018.
  8. ^ Bowman, Mark (July 2, 2018). "Braves call up Phillips, Reed". MLB.com. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  9. ^ a b Bowman, Mark (July 4, 2018). "Newcomb's struggles too much for Braves". MLB.com. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  10. ^ Bowman, Mark (July 4, 2018). "Braves recall prospect Gohara, option Phillips". MLB.com. Retrieved July 5, 2018.
  11. ^ "Gausman, O'Day acquired from Orioles". MLB.com.
  12. ^ "Evan Phillips Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com.
  13. ^ "Orioles Outright Evan Phillips". MLB Trade Rumors.
  14. ^ "Orioles Release Three Players". MLB Trade Rumors.
  15. ^ "Rays Sign Evan Phillips To Minor League Deal". MLB Trade Rumors.
  16. ^ "Rays Select Evan Phillips". MLB Trade Rumors. 12 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Rays Designate Evan Phillips For Assignment, Select Adam Conley". MLB Trade Rumors. 14 August 2021.
  18. ^ Adams, Steve (August 16, 2021). "Dodgers Claim Evan Phillips". MLB Trade Rumors. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  19. ^ "Dodgers' Evan Phillips: Notches first win". cbssports.com. August 19, 2021. Retrieved August 20, 2021.
  20. ^ Kepner, Tyler (June 16, 2023). "A Relief Pitcher's Journey From 'Bulk Guy' to 'Guy' to Star". New York Times. Retrieved October 4, 2023.
  21. ^ Stephen, Eric (January 11, 2024). "Dodgers sign 10 players to avoid salary arbitration". SB Nation. Retrieved January 12, 2024.
  22. ^ Connolly, Dan. "The strange, winding tale of a teenage, Ocean City summer romance in 1980 and its connection to an Orioles pitcher". The Athletic.
  23. ^ "L.A. Dodgers Pitcher Evan Phillips and Wife Welcome First Baby, Son Beau: 'Beyond Blessed'".

External links