Reds Reliever Connor Phillips Achieves Career Milestone

Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Connor Phillips celebrated a significant career achievement by recording his first Major League save. This moment comes after a challenging period for the right-hander, who was once rated highly within the organization.

At the start of 2024, Phillips held the distinction of being the No. 4 prospect in the entire Cincinnati Reds system. However, by June of that year, performance issues led to a significant demotion.

The 2024 Developmental Reset

Phillips struggled significantly in Triple-A Louisville, resulting in his placement on the developmental list. He was subsequently sent to the Reds' complex in Arizona to work on mechanical adjustments in a less competitive setting.

An earlier report detailed the severity of his struggles: "He gave up 23 earned runs in 10.1 innings over his three most recent starts for Triple-A Louisville, and the assignment to the complex will presumably allow him to work on some mechanical stuff that's easier to address in a less competitive environment."

Securing the First Career Save

The opportunity for the save arose during a 2-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night. Key bullpen arms, including Emilio Pagan, Tony Santillan, and Pierce Johnson, were unavailable for the final inning.

Phillips acknowledged the situation beforehand. "We kind of all knew it was going to come down to one of the guys that have been throwing earlier in the games," Phillips stated. He added, "I kind of had an idea. I thought I was ready for it. I come in, there is a lot more emotions. I don't throw many strikes early. I put myself in a little pickle there."

Navigating a High-Pressure Inning

The start of the ninth inning proved difficult for the reliever. Phillips immediately walked Macell Ozuna on four pitches. He followed this by walking Ryan O'Hearn in a lengthy eight-pitch at-bat, putting two runners on base with no outs.

Cincinnati pitching coach Derek Johnson made a mound visit to settle the situation. This visit appeared effective, as Phillips then struck out Jared Triolo. He followed that with a fly out to left field off the bat of Spencer Horwitz.

The final out came when Phillips induced a weak pop-up from Nick Gonzales, securing the 2-0 win and his first career save. Following the outing, Phillips shared his key takeaway: "Basically, just trust my stuff. We know it's good. I know it's good. Throw the ball in the strike zone and I should be alright."

Managerial Reaction and Future Outlook

Manager Tito Francona offered encouragement following the stressful save. "You know what, adversity is for spring training," Francona commented. He teased Phillips, saying, "I was kind of teasing him afterwards and said, 'you know, you don't have to walk those guys.'"

Francona concluded positively, stating, "But any experience is a good experience. He came in the other night and threw it very well. He got it done tonight, so he will leave feeling good."

The journey from being a top prospect to struggling in the minors and ultimately earning a save in under two years is noteworthy. Phillips earned his way back by trusting his pitching and consistently throwing strikes, suggesting he may become a significant component of the Cincinnati bullpen in 2026.