Dodgers Key Reliever Throws First Bullpen Session of Spring

· Yahoo Sports

Los Angeles Dodgers reliever Evan Phillips appears to be recovering well from Tommy John surgery.

Visit sportfeeds.autos for more information.

Phillips, who will miss the first half of the season or so due to the surgery, participated in his first bullpen session with a squatting catcher of spring training on Tuesday, Fabian Ardaya of The Athletic reports.

Phillips missed much of last season due to injury, but the team still brought him back on a one-year, $6.5 million deal.

Even though he pitched only 5.2 innings across seven games in 2025, he’d handled much larger workloads in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with 64, 62 and 61 appearances, respectively.

Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said given Phillips’ recovery time, they’re treating him differently than others who may be dealing with injuries during spring training.

“…[Phillips] is feeling really good, throwing looks great, body looks great,” he said. “I think it’s just being mindful and viewing him as almost a trade deadline acquisition.”

Oct 11, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Evan Phillips (59) reacts after being relieved in the seventh inning against the San Diego Padres during game five of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

What Have Evan Phillips’ Successful Seasons Looked Like?

In those 2022 to 2024 seasons, Phillips recording ERAs of 1.14, 2.05 and 3.62 and WHIPs of 0.762, 0.832 and 1.189, respectively.

In 2025, though he was limited, he didn’t give up a run, earned or otherwise, and allowed only four hits and two walks against six strikeouts. He also recorded a save that season.

Overall with the Dodgers, Phillips has pitched parts or all of five seasons, recording an overall ERA of 2.22 across 201 appearances and 195 innings.

He also has a WHIP of 0.938 during his time with the Boys in Blue.

Oct 5, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles pitcher Evan Phillips (59) throws a pitch in the sixth inning against the San Diego Padres during game one of the NLDS for the 2024 MLB Playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-Imagn Images

What Will the Dodgers Pitching Staff be in 2026?

A lot remains unknown heading into the season.

The six-man starting rotation will be centered around stars like Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Shohei Ohtani and Tyler Glasnow, though remaining spots remain in flux amid struggles by Roki Sasaki.

And while Edwin Diaz is the closer, the remainder of the bullpen features young talents and experienced arms.

Phillips is expected to help stabilize the pitching corps if any questions remains when he returns.

Read full story at source