Connor Phillips is back in the big leagues, and the Reds are giving him one more shot to make a case.
Cincinnati recalled the right-hander from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday before its series opener against the Atlanta Braves, a move triggered by Tony Santillan landing on the 15-day injured list with a left hip labral tear. Santillan’s IL placement was retroactive to Sept. 19, and Phillips hasn’t pitched in a Major League game since May 23.
The call-up gives Phillips a late-season opportunity after a 2026 campaign that has gone sideways. He opened the year on the Reds’ Opening Day roster, but his first outing was rough from the start. He lasted just two-thirds of an inning, gave up two runs on two hits and issued a walk.
Phillips stayed with the club into May before Cincinnati sent him back to Louisville after he posted a 5.53 ERA. The numbers told the story: 28 strikeouts, 28 walks, and a fastball that no longer looked like it was landing where he wanted it.
His time back in Triple-A wasn’t smooth either. Phillips threw 10 innings after arriving in Louisville, then spent a little less than a month on the injured list. He returned on July 12 and has logged 27⅓ innings since, putting up a 5.93 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 24 walks.
There has been some recent improvement. Phillips has a 1.04 ERA this month, but his command remains the issue, with an 11.4% walk rate that still hasn’t gotten to the level the Reds need.
That means the final week of the 2026 season could be all he gets. The best guess is that Phillips will have three chances or fewer to show he belongs on Cincinnati’s offseason roster.
Phillips came to the Reds in 2022 as part of the return from Seattle in the Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker trade. The raw stuff has always been there. Putting it all together has been the problem.
He still has minor league options left and is pre-arbitration eligible, but Cincinnati is expected to need room on the 40-man roster this winter. If Phillips doesn’t make a strong enough impression now, the 25-year-old could be squeezed out.
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