Connor Phillips didn’t pitch much in spring training with the big league club in 2024, throwing just 6.0 innings. Those innings were spread out over three outings, but he didn’t give up a run in any of them. Still, the Cincinnati Reds felt he wasn’t one of their best five starting pitching options and sent him to Triple-A where he could get more experience and provide rotational depth if and when it was inevitably needed.
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When the Triple-A season began for Louisville, Connnor Phillips made his first start in the Bats 4th game of the season. He gave up a run in the 1st inning, but then kept Gwinnett off of the scoreboard for the next five innings and Phillips picked up the win.
A week later he was back on the mound and making his first home start. Things couldn’t have gone much worse as Columbus hit three home runs, walked four times, and scored nine runs against him in just 3.2 innings. Five days later he faced the Clippers again and Phillips couldn’t get out of the 3rd inning as he allowed two runs in 2.2 innings.
On April 20th, Phillips hit the road to face off against Iowa and things did go better than his previous two starts as he allowed one run in 3.2 innings, but he walked a fine line as he gave up three hits, hit a batter, and had five walks in the game.
In his final start of the month he allowed 11 hits and eight runs in 4.0 innings at home against Nashville. Things didn’t get much better from there. Over the next month-and-a-half months he made nine more starts and allowed 52 hits and walked 34 batters in 37.0 innings while posting an ERA of 10.70. After his start in Omaha on June 19th the Reds decided to send him back to Arizona and the spring training complex to rework some things in non-game situations.
Two months would pass before Connor Phillips returned to the mound in a game, but on August 21st he was back in Louisville and faced off against Gwinnett and while he only allowed one run in 2.0 innings, he walked four batters, hit another one, and had just one strikeout. Things went better over his next two outings as he gave up two runs in 4.0 innings in Indianapolis and then held Jacksonville scoreless in 6.0 innings while walking just two batters between both outings.
On September 10th he faced off against Iowa and gave up one run, but he struggled with his control once again as he handed out four free passes in just 3.2 innings. The regular season came to an end back in Louisville a week later. Phillips put together arguably his best start of the year as he allowed two runs in 6.0 innings to Omaha while walking no one and striking out nine batters.
Following his time in Louisville, the Reds picked Phillips to be one of the pitchers they sent to the Arizona Fall League. Much like his regular season – consistency was an issue. While seven of the nine earned runs he allowed came in one outing that covered just 2.1 of the 19.1 innings he threw, he walked 11 batters in his final three games that saw him throw just 9.0 combined innings after walking three in his first 10.1 innings.
For all 2024 Season Reviews and Scouting Reports – click here (these will come out during the week throughout the offseason).
Connor Phillips Scouting Report
Position: Right-handed pitcher | B/T: R/R
Height: 6′ 2″ | Weight: 209 lbs. | Acquired: Trade (Mariners (2022) | Born: May 4, 2001
Fastball | Phillips has elite velocity as a starter, averaging 96.9 MPH with his fastball in 2024.
Slider | He flashes a plus slider that works in the mid-80’s that has some sweep to it.
Curveball| An above-average pitch that works in the low-to-mid 80’s with 12-6 breaking action.
Change Up | A well below-average pitch that works in the upper 80’s to low 90’s.
Stuff has never been a question for Connor Phillips. He’s got three above-average to plus pitches when he’s at his best. The change up needs to improve and he’s likely going to have to throw it a little more often than he currently does, but he’s got enough pitches at a high enough quality to profile as a big league starter when it comes to that side of things.
The concern with Phillips remaining a starter has always been about his consistency with the strikezone. While in the past he would have some hiccups here and there with his control and his walk rate was a little bit higher than you want to see from a starting pitcher, he made up for it a bit with big time stuff and a ton of strikeouts. That was not the case in 2024 as his control was a disaster and his strikeout rate plummeted as a result of his inability to find the strikezone with any sort of consistency.
When the year began the question was “will he throw enough strikes to remain a starter?” but that question now is “will he throw enough strikes to be a big leaguer of any kind?” and it’s a question that we’ll have a better feel of an answer for when the 2025 season gets underway. His control was nowhere near good enough in 2024 to pitch in any role in the big leagues and it’s going to have to be much better than that moving forward. He’s shown in the past that he can be better in that regard, but after last year he’s going to have to go out and show that he’s improved.
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Interesting Stat on Connor Phillips
The leadoff hitter hit .227/.346/.341 against Phillips in 2024. The hitters who were 2nd through 9th in the lineup hit a combined .324/.437/.575 against him.