The Phillies have bolstered their minor league ranks with the signing of right-hander Connor Gillispie, according to multiple sources. Steve Potter of PhilliesBaseballFan.com was the first to report the deal last week. While it's uncertain if Gillispie will be invited to the big league camp, his addition to the organization is notable. With a five-pitch repertoire, including a low-90s four-seamer, cutter, sweeper, changeup, and curveball, Gillispie brings a unique skill set to the team. However, his big league experience is limited to 34 innings, during which he has allowed 25 earned runs, resulting in a 7.15 ERA. This performance has been below league average, with a 20% strikeout rate, 10.3% walk rate, and 36.2% ground ball rate. Gillispie's struggles continued in the minors last year, with a 7.23 ERA over ten starts and two relief appearances. However, he has shown promise in the past, with a 4.05 ERA and 10.1% walk rate in 2024, indicating that he could be a valuable asset to the team's rotation depth. The Phillies are facing some uncertainty at the start of the season, with Zack Wheeler recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery. If he's unable to start, the team will rely on Cristopher Sánchez, Jesús Luzardo, Aaron Nola, and Taijuan Walker to fill the rotation spots. Nola and Walker have had inconsistent performances in recent years, and prospect Andrew Painter could be a potential candidate for the final rotation spot, but his 5.40 ERA in Triple-A last year raises concerns. Beyond the projected front five, the Phillies' depth is limited, with only Alan Rangel, Jean Cabrera, Yoniel Curet, Bryce Wilson, and Tucker Davidson on the roster. Gillispie's addition provides the team with another arm for non-roster rotation depth, and if he makes the roster, he could be shuttled between Triple-A and the big leagues, offering flexibility and potential for development.
