Phillies select Nick Nelson; option Tyler Phillips
Prior to today’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays, the Phillies selected the contract of right-handed pitcher Nick Nelson from triple-A Lehigh Valley. To make room for him on the 26-man roster, right-handed pitcher Tyler Phillips was optioned to Lehigh Valley, and to make room on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Michael Rucker was designated for assignment.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Nelson, 28, struck out five batters across 3.1 innings pitched in three relief appearances for the Phillies during his lone stint in the majors from March 31-April 13. He appeared in 31 games (5 starts) for the IronPigs this season, where he has gone 2-5 with two saves, a 6.30 ERA (35 ER, 50.0 IP) and 39 strikeouts. Originally selected by the New York Yankees in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Nelson was acquired by the Phillies in a trade with the Yankees on Nov. 19, 2021.
Phillips, 26, appeared in his eighth game (7th start) with the Phillies last night in Toronto after being recalled from Lehigh Valley on Sunday. On July 27 against the Cleveland Guardians, the Lumberton, N.J., native became the first Phillies rookie to throw a complete-game shutout since Zach Eflin in 2016. Phillips was selected by the Texas Rangers in the 16th round of the 2015 MLB Draft, and he was claimed off waivers by the Phillies from Texas on July 24, 2021.
Rucker, 30, opened the season on the 15-day injured list with a right hand arterial vasospasm. He did not appear in a game for the Phillies after being reinstated from the 60-day injured list on July 26 and optioned to Lehigh Valley on July 29. Originally selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 11th round of the 2016 MLB Draft, Rucker was acquired by the Phillies via trade on Feb. 6, 2024.