Flame-throwing prospect Orion Kerkering will join the Phillies for their push to October. The club promoted the 22-year-old right-hander on Friday. Reliver Yunior Marte was optioned to triple-A to make room on the 28-man roster.
Kerkering is 4-1 with 14 saves, a 1.51 ERA (9 ER, 53.2 IP) and a 0.89 WHIP across 49 relief appearances with single-A Clearwater (9), high-A Jersey Shore (18), double-A Reading (21) and triple-A Lehigh Valley (1) this season.
The Phillies Minor League Pitcher of the Month in April, Kerkering did not allow a run in 43 of his 49 outings this year, including his last nine. He was named the recipient of the 2023 Paul Owens Award, which is presented annually to the Phillies’ top minor league pitcher. He will wear No. 50.
The Phillies selected Kerkering in the fifth round of the 2022 draft.
"This kid has legitimate big league stuff," a rival scout said of Kerkering last summer. "I certainly can see him making it as a major backend of the bullpen type of guy."
