The Phillies acquired right-hander Nolan Hoffman on Wednesday from the Texas Rangers for cash considerations. He was immediately optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after having his contract selected.
Hoffman, 27, has been a strikeout machine this year at Triple-A Round Rock — racking up 46 punchouts in 35 innings (that’s an 11.8 K/9, for the analytically inclined). He also pitched last season at Triple-A Norfolk in the Orioles system, finishing with 77 strikeouts in 58 innings. So over the last two seasons? Try 123 strikeouts in 93 innings, which works out to an even 11.9 per nine.
Originally drafted by the Mariners in the fifth round out of Texas A&M back in 2018, Hoffman has worked primarily out of the bullpen in his minor league career — with 267 strikeouts and a 3.65 ERA across 185 games.
Painter’s masterpiece? Finally.
It hasn’t been the smoothest ride lately for Andrew Painter, but Sunday afternoon looked a lot more like the future the Phillies have been envisioning.
Painter, still working his way back from elbow surgery and a few recent hiccups, spun five scoreless innings with six strikeouts in a 4-1 win for Lehigh Valley over Worcester — the same club that roughed him up just five days earlier for six runs in five innings.
That’s what you call a course correction.
The 21-year-old had surrendered 10 earned runs and four homers in his previous two starts, raising some questions about his rhythm and recovery. But on Sunday? Just one hit. No walks. Vintage stuff.
The Harper Watch continues.
The Phillies placed Bryce Harper on the injured list June 7 (retroactive to June 6) with inflammation in his right wrist. He’s been sporting a brace and hasn’t yet resumed hitting or throwing, but he is taking grounders.
Manager Rob Thomson said over the weekend that Harper’s “range of motion is almost back to where it should be,” and Dave Dombrowski sounded optimistic Monday when chatting with Gregg Murphy on the Phillies' pregame show.
“I’m not concerned about any long-term issues,” Dombrowski said. “He’s been cleared to go ahead and get back in the lineup whenever he feels comfortable doing that.”
Could that mean a return this weekend when the Mets visit Citizens Bank Park? Possibly. But the club could also opt for a rehab stint at Triple-A Lehigh Valley — especially given Harper’s cautious progression since the injury.
