The Phillies announced that they have selected the contract of left-hander Tyler Gilbert from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. In corresponding moves, right-hander Tyler Phillips was optioned to Triple-A, and right-hander Spencer Turnbull was shifted from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL.
It’s something of a homecoming for Gilbert, who was a sixth-round pick for the Phillies in the 2015 draft. He spent his first five pro seasons in the Phils organization before he was traded to the Dodgers for Kyle Garlick prior to the 2020 season, and Gilbert’s tenure in L.A. didn’t consist of even a single game due to the canceled 2020 minor league campaign. The Diamondbacks then selected Gilbert in the 2020 Rule 5 Draft and he posted a 4.32 ERA across 91 2/3 MLB innings for Arizona from 2021-23, highlighted by a no-hitter in his first Major League start on August 14, 2021.
Almost exactly three years after that history-making game, Gilbert finds himself going full circle, as he is now in line to finally suit up for the Phillies in a big league contest. Gilbert signed a minor league deal with Cincinnati during the offseason and started the year with the Reds’ Triple-A affiliate before the Phillies acquired him in a cash deal in May. The southpaw has been nothing short of outstanding since the trade, as Gilbert has a 2.06 ERA, 33.3% strikeout rate, 4.2% walk rate, and a 58.1% grounder rate over 35 relief innings in Lehigh Valley.
This is the first time Gilbert has been used exclusively as a reliever in his career, and it certainly appears to have unlocked something in the 30-year-old. If Gilbert can deliver anything remotely close to his Triple-A numbers at the MLB level, it would be an enormous help to a Philadelphia bullpen that has posted the third-worst ERA (5.32) in baseball since the All-Star break. Phils manager Rob Thomson Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer and other reporters that Gilbert will be deployed as a multi-inning reliever.
Turnbull hasn’t pitched since he suffered a right lat strain on June 26, and the June 27 placement date of his 15-day IL stint still stands as the start date of his new 60-day window. Turnbull had his planned return to mound work last week delayed by some soreness, so given that he’ll still need a good deal of ramp-up time before he’s ready to rejoin the Phillies, his absence is almost sure to extend beyond the 60-day minimum.
Replacing TPhilly with TGilly
Hahaha.
Is Turnbull likely lost for the remainder of the year, including post season?
Last I saw, Turnbull had some soreness after a recent bullpen session but they didn’t label it as a setback. I think he’s just taking extra rest between bullpen workouts. He won’t be available to start again this season because he won’t have time to build up to a starter’s workload, according to the front office.
I do believe they expect him back sometime before the end of the regular season.
I kinda wondered if they’d bring back Mercado, but admittedly I don’t know how he’s been since being sent down to the Iron Pigs. I know he was crushing it in AAA before his stint in the majors. I had hoped he picked it back up upon his demotion.
8 games…. 9.1 IP…. 4 ER. 2 of those came on 8/10 in 1/3rd inning….he gave up 1 hit but walked 4
Some teams think outside the box. Some teams are trapped in the box.
I think in the offseason they will go revist the trade talk with the white sox to try and get Crochet
I was at the no-hitter Gilbert threw in AZ. Always gonna root for him to find success after being there for that game. Maybe Philly can find something in the guy.
Sign T Bauer.