Connor Phillips is officially the player to be named later going from Seattle to Cincinnati in the Jesse Winker heist.
Per MLB.come write up:
“More than any pitcher in the organization, Phillips is the classic high-risk, high-upside arm that has some scouts marveling and others uncertain. On one hand, the righty had a 32.6% strikeout rate in 2021, and on the other, a 1.477 WHIP. Elite stuff with some command issues has been the profile for the former JUCO pitcher, whom the Mariners liked enough in 2020 to use their Competitive Balance Round B pick on, signing him for a full-slot bonus of just over $1 million.”
Fangraphs opinion on Phillips FV 40:
“In high school, Phillips was best when he was 88-92 with command, but could sit 91-94 and hit 96 mph while losing the strike zone. He decided not to sign as 35th round pick by Toronto out of high school in 2019, and opted for junior college rather than following through on an LSU commitment. He began hitting 98 in the fall of 2019 and held that velo coming out early in 2020 before slipping back into the 91-94 range by mid-February, though he’s back into the mid-90s now. Phillips has three good-looking pitches but his grip-and-rip style of pitching is more evocative of a reliever. He’ll try to back door his curveball for strikes but otherwise there aren’t many present pitchability elements to speak of here. (Fall Instructional League)”