When the Phillies pulled off a quiet trade with the Diamondbacks on December 19, it didn’t exactly set the hot stove on fire. But don’t let the lack of headlines fool you-this move has some intrigue. Philadelphia picked up left-handed reliever Kyle Backhus in exchange for outfield prospect Avery Owusu-Asiedu, and while it’s not the kind of deal that dominates offseason chatter, it’s the type of under-the-radar addition that can pay dividends over the course of a long season.
Let’s be honest: most fans aren’t refreshing their feeds for bullpen depth moves. But every contender needs those glue pieces-guys who might not be household names but can quietly stabilize a roster.
Backhus fits that mold. He’s not a splashy signing, but he’s got a skill set that could give the Phillies something different out of the pen in 2026.
So, who exactly is Kyle Backhus?
He’s a 27-year-old southpaw from New Waverly, Texas, who took the long road to the majors. After pitching at Sam Houston State from 2017 to 2021, Backhus signed with Arizona as an undrafted free agent and worked his way through their system. He finally made his MLB debut on June 8, 2025, and even notched his first big league strikeout against Elly De La Cruz-a nice feather in the cap for any rookie.
His numbers in 2025 don’t jump off the page: a 0-3 record, 4.62 ERA, and 1.42 WHIP over 25 1/3 innings. But dig a little deeper, and there’s more going on here. Backhus throws from a low arm slot-what scouts call a "sidewinder"-and that delivery alone can make him a tough matchup, especially for left-handed hitters.
His pitch mix includes a sinker, sweeper, and changeup. The sinker is his go-to, averaging 91 mph, and while it doesn’t miss a ton of bats, it’s effective at limiting damage.
Opponents hit just .231 against it with a .354 slugging percentage. The key here is contact management-Backhus kept the ball on the ground nearly half the time with a 46.3% ground ball rate and an average launch angle of just four degrees.
That’s the kind of pitch that can bail a team out of a jam with a timely double play.
Then there’s the changeup. He doesn’t use it often-just 9.5% of the time and only to righties-but it’s sneaky good.
In just 41 changeups thrown in 2025, he generated a 46.7% whiff rate. That’s not a typo.
When hitters swung at it, they missed nearly half the time. It’s a small sample, sure, but it hints at a pitch that could become more of a weapon with refinement.
The most intriguing part of Backhus’ profile, though, might be his extension. At 7.2 feet, he ranked in the 96th percentile in MLB.
That means he’s releasing the ball much closer to the plate than most pitchers, giving hitters even less time to react. Combine that with a nine-degree arm angle, and you’ve got a reliever who’s not just throwing pitches-he’s throwing illusions.
The ball jumps on hitters in a way that’s hard to replicate in batting practice or even from other lefties.
Now, is there room for growth? Absolutely.
Backhus is heading into his age-28 season, and he’s still working to find consistency at the big-league level. But this is a low-risk move for Philadelphia.
He’s team-controlled, has minor league options, and is only costing the Phillies $820,000. If he clicks, he could be a valuable piece in a bullpen that’s always in need of fresh arms.
If not, they have flexibility.
The Phillies aren’t banking on Backhus to be a late-inning stopper. But in a 162-game grind, having a guy who can come in, get ground balls, and give hitters a different look from the left side?
That’s a win. And if that changeup turns into a legitimate out pitch, he could quietly carve out a bigger role.
So no, this trade won’t lead off SportsCenter. But it’s the kind of move that smart teams make-taking a shot on a unique arm with upside and minimal downside. Phillies fans might not know Kyle Backhus yet, but come summer, they just might be glad he’s around.