Who is Alex Phillips?

[stringer bell]

ESPN's Twins roster lists an Alex Phillips, a right handed pitcher. Is this some type of error, or have they acquired this guy? 

[Squirrel]

He isn’t listed on the 40-man. Maybe minor league filler?

[Althebum82]

Alex Phillips Amateur, College, Minor & Independent Leagues Statistics | Baseball-Reference.com

Been in the minors since 2018, pitching mostly last season with Wichita.  Probably just a one or two day invite to the big league camp and then will be returned back to the minor league camp.  Appearance most likely courtesy of the void left by WBC. players.

[Althebum82]

They also moved over Sean Mooney, Armani Smith, and Carlos Aguiar.

[whosafraidofluigirussolo]

Seemingly every box score from a road game in spring training that I look at has at least one or two guys I've never heard of. It seems like between player absences for the WBC and a fairly faithful observance of the "veterans don't have to make spring road trips" rule, they're pulling some players over from the minor-league camp every game.

[Seth Stohs]

Check every spring training box score... there are minor leaguers brought over from minor-league camp for home and road games. Generally they get to play the second half of games, or they're there for depth. Most planned pitchers start innings, so anytime a pitcher comes out during the middle of an inning, guys like this finish out the inning. 

Alex Phillips was interesting as a reliever prospect. He went undrafted but came in and did well, and was throwing 95+... I know he had surgery a year or two ago. Didn't pitch a whole lot last year. 

[stringer bell]

This roster does include Phillips, and none of the minor leaguers not on the 40-man.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/roster/_/name/min/minnesota-twins

[Squirrel]

11 hours ago, stringer bell said:

This roster does include Phillips, and none of the minor leaguers not on the 40-man.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/team/roster/_/name/min/minnesota-twins

I think it's just a mistake. It's certainly confusing. He isn't listed on the Twins page here, at all:

https://www.mlb.com/twins/roster/40-man

[Dman]

Yeah Seth did a writeup on him for Twins Daily in 2022. Got to read those top 5 posts. And further back in 2019 he said this.  Sounds like it has been a bit of a long road but he made some top 5 list along the way.  He has potential but likely a AAA arm.

 

[nicksaviking]

Maybe Edouard Julien figured if he changed his name to something more American sounding and less French, he'd sneak back into camp?

[Dave The Dastardly]

Maintenance guy. Comes with his own screwdriver. Hangs around Rocco... you know, when Rocco has a screw loose about pitching changes. Phillips steps in, a couple twists of the wrist, presto! Starter stays in for the 5th inning.