At the start of this year, it seemed like 26-year-old righthander Griff McGarry was at a crossroads.
The Phillies had opted not to protect him in the 2024 Rule 5 draft, though he ultimately wasn’t selected and remained in the organization.
Since the Phillies drafted McGarry out of Virginia in 2022, his mid-90s fastball and his sweeper have consistently graded out highly, but he has struggled with command.
After he had been a starter for his first two seasons in the minors, the Phillies tried moving McGarry to the bullpen in 2024. His season was limited to 30 appearances due to a back injury, but even when healthy, he still walked 24% of batters.
But a stint in the Arizona Fall League in 2024 was a new beginning. The Phillies moved him back to a starting role in 2025, and he was able to find a better routine and rhythm at Double-A Reading.
“Something I focused on this year a lot was just consistency in every facet; on the field, off the field,” McGarry said. “I think it really took over my offseason, which prepared me well for the season. Ahead of the year, I just felt really prepared.”
McGarry credited that offseason work for the improvements he made in 2025. Back in the rotation, he cut his walk rate to 14%. He began the season with Reading and finished with one strong Triple-A start.
His 3.44 ERA and 35% strikeout rate earned McGarry the Paul Owens Award as the Phillies’ minor league pitcher of the year.
“In years past, in Triple-A I’ve had my ups and downs there,” he said. “It’s good to really finish there and finish the season how I wanted to.”
While command will continue to be a point of focus for McGarry, a bounceback 2025 season offered a solid foundation.
“I’m just really excited to build off of everything this season,” McGarry said, “and heading into the offseason just as motivated to work hard and come back next year on that same path.”