Zach Phillips Explained

Zach Phillips should not be confused with Zack Phillips.

Zach Phillips
Width:250
Team:Acereros de Monclova
Number:58
Birth Date:21 September 1986
Birth Place:Sacramento, California, U.S.
Bats:Left
Throws:Left
Debutleague:MLB
Debutdate:August 31
Debutyear:2011
Debutteam:Baltimore Orioles
Debut2league:NPB
Debut2date:May 10
Debut2year:2014
Debut2team:Hiroshima Toyo Carp
Statyear:2016 season
Statleague:MLB
Stat1label:Win–loss record
Stat1value:0–1
Stat2label:Earned run average
Stat2value:3.22
Stat3label:Strikeouts
Stat3value:20
Stat2year:2014 season
Stat2league:NPB
Stat21label:Win–loss record
Stat21value:1-0
Stat22label:Earned run average
Stat22value:3.27
Stat23label:Strikeouts
Stat23value:7
Teams:

Zachary David Phillips (born September 21, 1986) is a Mexican-American professional baseball pitcher for the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League. He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 23rd round in 2005, and has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Baltimore Orioles, Miami Marlins, and Pittsburgh Pirates, and in Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB) for the Hiroshima Toyo Carp.

Career

Texas Rangers

He was drafted by the Texas Rangers in the 23rd round of the 2005 amateur draft,[1] being signed by scout Tim Fortugno.

Phillips began his professional career in 2005, playing for the AZL Rangers (14 games) and Clinton LumberKings (two games), going a combined 1-3 with a 4.14 ERA in 16 games (11 starts). In innings, he struck out 77 batters. He spent all of 2006 with the LumberKings, going 5-23 with a 5.96 ERA in 28 starts. The following year, he played for the Clinton again and went 11-7 with a 2.91 ERA in 27 starts, striking out 157 batters in innings of work. In 2008, he went 8-9 with a 5.54 ERA in 28 starts for the Bakersfield Blaze.[2]

For the 2009 season, Phillips converted to relief pitching and went a combined 2-3 with a 1.39 ERA in 36 combined games for the Blaze (16 games) and Frisco RoughRiders (20 games). He began the 2010 season with the RoughRiders but was later promoted to the Oklahoma City RedHawks.

On July 14, 2011, the Texas Rangers designated Phillips for assignment, giving them 10 days to trade, release, or outright him to the minors.[3]

Baltimore Orioles

On July 19, 2011, he was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league infielder Nick Green and cash.[4] He made his Major League debut for the Orioles on August 31, 2011, against the Toronto Blue Jays. He appeared in 10 games in 2011, with a 1.13 ERA in 8 innings pitched.

On November 4, 2012, Phillips elected free agency after refusing his outright assignment to the Triple-A Norfolk Tides.[5]

Miami Marlins

Phillips signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins before the 2013 season. After not making the team, he was assigned to the Triple-A New Orleans Zephyrs, where he spent most of the season. In 50 games with the Zephyrs, he went 4-2 with a 2.44 ERA and a save, striking out 74 in 59 innings. On September 1, he was called up by the Marlins.[6] Phillips appeared in 3 games with Miami, where he went 0-1 while giving up 1 run in 1.2 innings. He was outrighted off the roster on October 7, 2013, and elected to become a free agent.[7]

Hiroshima Toyo Carp

On October 28, 2013, Phillips signed a one-year deal with the Hiroshima Toyo Carp of Nippon Professional Baseball, including a signing bonus of $154k.[8] In nine relief appearances for Hiroshima in 2014, Phillips went 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA.

Chicago White Sox

On December 15, 2014, he signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox. On December 17, he was assigned to the Triple–A Charlotte Knights.[9]

He was outrighted and elected free agency on March 18, 2016.

Baltimore Orioles (second stint)

Phillips signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Orioles on March 23, 2016.[10] On April 1, he was removed from the 40–man roster and outrighted to the Triple–A Norfolk Tides.[11] In 49 relief outings for Norfolk, Phillips compiled a 9–3 record and 4.45 ERA with 84 strikeouts across innings pitched.[12]

Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates acquired Phillips from Baltimore on August 31, 2016, in exchange for left-handed pitcher Kyle Lobstein. He was sent to the Triple-A Indianapolis Indians. He was brought up to the Pirates on September 13. He was outrighted on November 2, 2016.

St. Louis Cardinals

On November 18, 2016, Phillips signed a minor league deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.[13] Phillips was also invited to major league spring training. He was released on June 15, 2017.

Acereros de Monclova

On June 24, 2017, Phillips signed with the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican Baseball League. In 2018, he was naturalized as a Mexican and no longer occupied a foreign spot in the Mexican Baseball League.[14] On February 26, 2019, He was selected Mexico national baseball team at 2019 exhibition games against Japan.[15] Phillips did not play in a game in 2020 due to the cancellation of the Mexican League season because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[16]

Rieleros de Aguascalientes

On July 13, 2022, Phillips was loaned to the Rieleros de Aguascalientes of the Mexican League for the remainder of the 2022 season. In 11 contests, he logged an 0.90 ERA with 14 strikeouts across 10 innings of work. On September 23, the Acereros officially traded Phillips to the Rieleros, making the loan permanent.

In 2023, Phillips made 29 relief appearances for Aguascalientes, registering a 4–3 record and 4.25 ERA with 18 strikeouts and 2 saves across innings pitched.[17]

Acereros de Monclova (second stint)

On August 1, 2023, Phillips was traded back to the Acereros de Monclova of the Mexican League. He made three scoreless outings for Monclova to finish the year.[18]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: MLB Amateur Draft Picks with the Name Matching: phillips. Baseball-Reference.com.
  2. Web site: Zach Phillips Minor, Winter, Japanese & Mexican Leagues Statistics & History. Baseball-Reference.com.
  3. Web site: Rangers activate Scott Feldman, option Darren O'Day to minors Texas Rangers Blog Sports News News for Dallas, Texas The Dallas Morning News. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110830193410/http://rangersblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2011/07/rangers-activate-scott-feldman.html. 2011-08-30.
  4. Web site: Dierkes. Tim. Orioles Acquire Zach Phillips. MLBTradeRumors.com. July 19, 2011.
  5. Web site: Quick Hits: Hamilton, Indians, Cardinals, Rockies. MLB Trade Rumors.
  6. Web site: Miami Marlins news: Chris Coghlan among three September call-ups . Fish Stripes . Michael . Jong . September 2, 2013.
  7. Web site: Zach Phillips and Koyie Hill have elected to become free agents.
  8. Web site: 広島に新外国人左腕!マ軍フィリップスと1年契約 - 野球 - SANSPO.COM(サンスポ) . www.sanspo.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131029203732/http://www.sanspo.com/baseball/news/20131028/car13102810000000-n1.html . 2013-10-29.
  9. News: Soto, Penny get minors deals. January 23, 2015. Associated Press. ESPN.com. January 22, 2015.
  10. Web site: Orioles Sign Zach Phillips, Designate Chris Jones. Dierkes. Tim. mlbtraderumors.com. March 23, 2016. April 1, 2016.
  11. Web site: Orioles Outright Zach Phillips. Todd. Jeff. mlbtraderumors.com. April 1, 2016. April 1, 2016.
  12. Web site: Does Zach Phillips Have A Future With The Pirates?. June 17, 2024. rumbunter.com. en.
  13. Web site: Sierra among 4 added to Cards' 40-man roster. Berry. Adam. MLB.com. November 18, 2016. November 19, 2016.
  14. Web site: June 13, 2018 . Zach Phillips jugará con Monclova como mexicano . Zach Phillips will play with Monclova as a Mexican . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180616193931/https://www.playballnetwork.mx/2018/06/13/zach-phillips-jugara-monclova-mexicano/ . June 16, 2018 . May 18, 2022 . PlayBall Network.
  15. Web site: February 26, 2019 . Roster de México para ENEOS Samurai Japan Series . Mexico Roster for ENEOS Samurai Japan Series . February 26, 2019 . MiLB.com: The Official Site of Minor League Baseball . es.
  16. Web site: Todd . Jeff . July 1, 2020 . Mexican League Cancels 2020 Season . MLB Trade Rumors.
  17. Web site: Zach Phillips Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News. April 23, 2024. milb.com. en.
  18. https://www.milb.com/mexican/news/previa-horno-a-la-maxima-potencia-en-monclova