The Phillies announced Friday that they’ve claimed right-hander Reggie McClain off waivers from the Mariners and designated fellow righty Trevor Kelley for assignment in order to open space on the 40-man roster.
McClain, 27, was designated for assignment by Seattle last week when the club claimed lefty Nick Margevicius from the Padres. McClain made his big league debut in 2019 but struggled to a 6.00 ERA in 21 innings with the Mariners. McClain had a big season in the minors last year, however, skyrocketing across three levels and notching a combined 2.23 ERA with 8.9 K/9, 2.7 BB/9 and 0.5 HR/9 in 72 2/3 innings.
McClain averages just under 94 mph on a heavy sinker that led to a huge 64.8 percent ground-ball rate in his 21 MLB innings, and his grounder rate in the minors checked in at nearly 60 percent as well. McClain still has all three minor league option years remaining, so if he sticks with the Phillies, they’ll be able to shuttle him back and forth between Philadelphia and Triple-A Lehigh Valley as often as they see fit.
The 26-year-old Kelley was also a waiver claim by the Phillies, coming over from the Red Sox organization in early December. Like McClain, he struggled in his MLB debut this past season (eight runs in 8 1/3 innings) but posted impressive minor league numbers in 2019 (1.79 ERA, 8.7 K/9, 2.9 BB/9 in 65 2/3 innings).
More like Reggie McClaimed.
hey now
I laughed harder than I probably should have
Who???
John’s kid
Clever
If he is related to John, the Phillies just got a Bad-a**.
He is. They are sisters.
Good baseball name
cmon klentak. Kelley is better.
6 of one, half-dozen of the other.
Personally I disagree. McClain’s GB rate is ridiculous.
Kelley has pitched 8 innings in MLB.
Cheating astros scored all of the runs
hmm youre right. maybe there is something here
Kelley>McLain
You came to that conclusion after 8 innings, eh?
Minor league careers as well
The balls fly out of CBP. McClain’s GB rate gives him a slight edge, but really flip a coin.
Nakatomi rhymes with Knock-a-homie!!!
that sinker led to anamazing ground-ball rate if he can go figure it out he might be a nice piece of the bullpen here and there
This roster spot should have gone to Greg Holland or Jeremy Jeffress.
I think Jeffress would have been a good investment, especially seeing as the Cubs got him for, what, league minimum? Holland, though, is on a bit of a downswing and I doubt he’ll recapture any of that excellence he had in KC, but maybe you’re right… With so many questions in the Phils bullpen, Klentak should be inviting at least half a dozen more guys to Spring Training.
I think Ryan Buchter would be a good guy to look at. Would be nice to have a lefty option other than Morgan (or Irvin) available.
It’s not the police you idiot.
Its him.
I just bought a Kelley jersey and started a fan group “Kelley’s Felleys”…damn it!!