It seemed plausible that Chace, who was put on the 40-man after the 2024 season, could play a very important role in Philly in 2025, even if that was as the team’s setup man or closer. Instead, Chace’s velocity tanked into the low 90s, his walk rate regressed to his problematic, early-career levels, and after six starts, he was shut down and needed Tommy John toward the end of May. The injury not only casts doubt on how Chace’s stuff might look when he returns, but also robs him of valuable reps needed to develop the durability, control, and secondary pitches of a starting pitcher.
Chace’s slider flashes late, hitter-freezing, two-plane bend, but it doesn’t do so consistently. At times, his changeup has ridiculous tailing action and can steal strikes running back over the glove-side corner of the plate, but again, this is rare.