Connor Phillips
{{Short description|American baseball player (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Connor Phillips
|image =
|team = Cincinnati Reds
|number = 34
|position = Pitcher
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2001|5|4}}
|birth_place = Houston, Texas, U.S.
|bats = Right
|throws = Right
|debutleague = MLB
|debutdate = September 5
|debutyear = 2023
|debutteam = Cincinnati Reds
|statleague = MLB
|statyear = 2023 season
|stat1label = Win–loss record
|stat1value = 1–1
|stat2label = Earned run average
|stat2value = 6.97
|stat3label = Strikeouts
|stat3value = 26
|teams =
- Cincinnati Reds ({{mlby|2023}})
}}
Connor Allan Phillips (born May 4, 2001) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB). He made his MLB debut in 2023.
Amateur career
Phillips attended Magnolia West High School in Magnolia, Texas, where he played baseball and went 12–3 with a 1.13 ERA and 125 strikeouts over {{fraction|92|2|3}} innings as a senior in 2019.{{Cite web|url=https://www.timesunion.com/neighborhood/moco/sports/article/BASEBALL-Who-should-be-The-Courier-s-Player-of-14025626.php|title = BASEBALL: Who should be the Courier's Player of the Year?|date = June 23, 2019}} He was selected by the Toronto Blue Jays in the 35th round of the 2019 Major League Baseball draft but did not sign.{{Cite web|url=https://www.yourconroenews.com/neighborhood/moco/sports/article/MLB-DRAFT-County-players-Phillips-Moss-and-Dias-13941629.php|title = MLB DRAFT: County players Phillips, Moss and Dias selected in late rounds Wednesday|date = June 5, 2019}} He had originally signed to play college baseball for the LSU Tigers, but instead enrolled at McLennan Community College so he would be eligible for the draft after his freshman year.{{Cite web|url=https://www.chron.com/sports/highschool/article/MLB-Magnolia-West-alum-Phillips-chasing-dream-15337127.php|title = Magnolia West alum Connor Phillips chasing dream with Mariners|date = June 12, 2020}} As a freshman at McLennan in 2020, he made six starts and went 3–1 with a 3.16 ERA over {{fraction|25|2|3}} innings before the season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2020/jun/29/mariners-sign-right-hander-connor-phillips-the-las/|title = Mariners sign right-hander Connor Phillips — the last of their 2020 draft picks | the Spokesman-Review| date=June 30, 2020 }}
Professional career
=Seattle Mariners=
The Seattle Mariners selected Phillips with the 64th overall selection of the 2020 Major League Baseball draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.kcentv.com/article/sports/seattle-mariners-select-mcc-pitcher-connor-phillips-with-64t/500-810d3939-a0cf-4e86-8747-40e72696805f|title = Seattle Mariners select MCC pitcher Connor Phillips with 64th overall pick|date = June 12, 2020}} He signed for $1.1 million.{{Cite web|url=https://www.mlb.com/news/connor-phillips-signs-with-mariners|title=Mariners complete Draft signings with Phillips|website=MLB.com}}{{cite web | last=Smith | first=Lauren | title=Mariners wrap up draft signings with pitcher Connor Phillips | website=Tacoma News Tribune | date=29 June 2020 | url=https://www.thenewstribune.com/sports/mlb/seattle-mariners/article243881462.html | access-date=18 October 2023}} He made his professional debut in 2021 with the Modesto Nuts and was promoted to the Everett AquaSox at the season's end.{{Cite web|url=https://theathletic.com/2916726/2021/10/29/five-mariners-minor-leaguers-who-helped-themselves-most-in-2021/|title = Five Mariners minor leaguers who helped themselves most in 2021 | last1=Brock | first1=Corey | website=The Athletic }} Over 17 starts between the two clubs, he went 7–4 with a 4.62 ERA, 111 strikeouts, and 46 walks over 76 innings.{{Cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/mariners-excited-to-see-what-connor-phillips-can-do-in-2022/|title = Mariners Excited to See What Connor Phillips Can do in 2022| date=March 13, 2022 }}
=Cincinnati Reds=
On March 29, 2022, the Mariners sent Phillips to the Cincinnati Reds as the player to be named later from an earlier trade that also sent Justin Dunn, Jake Fraley, and Brandon Williamson to the Reds in exchange for Jesse Winker and Eugenio Suárez.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/mlb/2022/03/30/connor-phillips-player-named-later-ptbnl-reds-mariners-trade-winker-suarez-fraley-dunn-williamson/7214602001/|title = Reactions: Connor Phillips joins Reds as player to be named later in trade with Mariners}} He was assigned to the Dayton Dragons to open the 2022 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.milb.com/dayton/news/dragons-announce-2022-roster|title = Dragons Announce 2022 Roster}} In late June, he was promoted to the Chattanooga Lookouts.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-connor-phillips-pushed-to-double-a/ | title=Reds' Connor Phillips: Pushed to Double-A | date=June 27, 2022 }} Over 24 starts between the two teams, Philips went 5–8 with a 3.78 ERA and 150 strikeouts over {{fraction|109|2|3}} innings.{{cite web | url=https://www.milb.com/player/tyler-callihan-682997 | title=Tyler Callihan Stats, Fantasy & News }}
Phillips returned to Chattanooga to open the 2023 season.{{cite web | url=https://www.mlb.com/news/where-reds-top-30-prospects-starting-season-2023 | title=Where the Reds' Top 30 prospects are starting season | website=MLB.com }} In late June, Phillips was promoted to the Louisville Bats.{{cite web | url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-connor-phillips-promoted-to-triple-a/ | title=Reds' Connor Phillips: Promoted to Triple-A | date=June 26, 2023 }} In 25 games (24 starts) between the two affiliates, he logged a cumulative 4–5 record and 3.86 ERA with 154 strikeouts in 105 innings of work. On September 2, 2023, Phillips was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time after Brandon Williamson was placed on the COVID-19 injured list.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Connor Phillips: Added as substitute|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-connor-phillips-added-as-substitute/amp/|access-date=September 2, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 5 starts during his rookie campaign, he struggled to a 6.97 ERA with 26 strikeouts across {{fraction|20|2|3}} innings pitched.
Phillips was optioned to Triple–A Louisville to begin the 2024 season.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Connor Phillips: Sent down to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-connor-phillips-sent-down-to-triple-a/amp/|access-date=March 16, 2024|website=cbssports.com|language=en}} In 19 starts for Louisville, he struggled to a 3-9 record and 8.01 ERA with 77 strikeouts across {{fraction|78|2|3}} innings pitched.
Phillips was again optioned to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2025 season.{{Cite web|title=Reds' Connor Phillips: Heading to Triple-A|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/reds-connor-phillips-heading-to-triple-a/|access-date=March 18, 2025|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{baseballstats|mlb=683175|espn=4918160|br=p/phillco01|fangraphs=27649|brm=philli000con|retro=P/Pphilc001}}
{{Cincinnati Reds roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phillips, Connor}}
Category:Baseball players from Houston
Category:Chattanooga Lookouts players
Category:Cincinnati Reds players
Category:Dayton Dragons players
Category:Everett AquaSox players
Category:Louisville Bats players
Category:Major League Baseball pitchers