Tyler Phillips to AAA Round Rock

The Texas Rangers have promoted righthanded pitcher Tyler Phillips from AA Frisco to AAA Round Rock, it was announced yesterday.

The timing of this move is interesting, as his last time out, he threw a scoreless first inning, and then went home run-single-home run-home run before being lifted, resulting in a 1 IP, 4 run outing. Before that, he threw 12 pitches in a relief outing against Northwest Arkansas, where he started the sixth inning, gave up a first pitch single, elicited a ground out, walked a batter on a 3-2 pitch, started pitching to Bobby Witt, Jr., threw a wild pitch, and then saw the game delayed because of a power issue that resulted in the lights at the field going off. When the lights came back on, the game had been delayed long enough that the Roughriders opted to replace Phillips, who was just back off the injured list after a soer elbow, rather than send him back out after having waited.

Phillips started off the season well for the Roughriders, allowing 2 runs in 14 IP, striking out 18, walking 6 and allowing one home run in four games before the elbow issue landed him on the injured list. His two bad outings since have raised his ERA on the year to 4.70.

Phillips, 23, was added to the Rangers’ 40 man roster after the 2019 season, and is on his second option. I imagine he will be joining the Round Rock rotation, and given the state of the major league pitching staff, if he performs well for the Express he will likely get a look in Arlington at some point this season.