Medina posted a 4.94 ERA/4.53 FIP in 105 2/3 innings last season with Double-A Reading. He's ranked as the No. 6 prospect in the organization according to MLB Pipeline.
“He's been up to 75-80 pitches, throwing the ball well, throwing his off-speed well, too,” manager Joe Girardi said. “It's a young man coming up to make his first start and I think anything is possible. I think he's talented. But again, we need to have a little wiggle room with this 40-man roster thing and we need to make sure we're doing the right thing.”
Medina will become the seventh Phillies pitcher to make his big-league debut this season, joining Spencer Howard, JoJo Romero, Ramon Rosso, Connor Brogdon, Garrett Cleavinger and Mauricio Llovera.
The 23-year-old right-hander has electric stuff, but he's struggled at times with consistency. He has a 3.60 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP over six minor league seasons. He averages a little more than eight strikeouts per nine innings.
The Phillies enter Sunday with a 1 1/2 game buffer to secure one of the two available wild card spots for the postseason. The Phillies currently hold the No. 7 seed and, as of now, will face the No. 2 seeded Cubs for a best-of-three series in Chicago.
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