The Los Angeles Dodgers expected to have a formidable bullpen this season that included the additions of Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates, to go along with a group that featured the likes of Michael Kopech, Evan Phillips, Blake Treinen and Alex Vesia, among others.
However, Kopech had a delayed start to the 2025 season, Treinen was inconsistent throughout the year, and Phillips only pitched in seven games before having Tommy John surgery. Meanwhile, Scott and Yates both fell short of expectations.
For Phillips, prior to his season-ending elbow surgery, he started the season on the 15-day injured list because of a right rotator cuff strain. He was activated April 19 but landed back on the IL two and a half weeks later because of right forearm discomfort.
Phillips went on to have Tommy John on June 4 and posted a video to his Instagram account of playing catch Wednesday for the first time since the procedure.
Phillips was encouraged with the initial recovery process after having surgery to repair the torn UCL in his right elbow.
“The pain has kind of died down at this point, now I’m just playing with the discomfort of being in the cast,” Phillips said just over one week after the operation. “And ultimately, it’s just a bit of an inconvenience here and there on certain things. But it’s really not been too bad.”
Phillips pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and yielded a 1.06 WHIP in his seven appearances this year.
Evan Phillips part of Dodgers celebration
Over the past several months Phillips tried to find a balance between not getting in the way of teammates while also being there to support them.
And though the season entailed a personal disappointment, Phillips got to celebrate with the Dodgers after they became back-to-back World Series champions.
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