When the Philadelphia Phillies take the field for pregame introductions prior to Thursday’s season opener against the Texas Rangers at Citizens Bank Park, reliever Tim Mayza, wearing No. 37, will jog out along the first-base line.
The Millersville University grad and Denver resident officially was named to the Phillies’ Opening Day roster on Wednesday.
The 34-year-old Mayza is one of four left-handers who will begin the season in the bullpen for Philadelphia, along with Jose Alvarado, Tanner Banks and Kyle Backhus.
Another MU grad, outfielder Chas McCormick, was in camp as a nonroster invitee after signing a minor league deal with the Chicago Cubs but did not make their opening roster.
Mayza signed a minor league contract with the Phillies in January after ending the 2025 season with Philadelphia.
He was a nonroster invitee to spring training and went 1-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 9.1 innings, striking out 10 and walking two.
Mayza exercised an opt-out clause in his contract last week, was released, then re-signed with the Phillies a day later.
Philadelphia claimed Mayza off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates last Aug. 31. He appeared in eight games for the Phillies, allowing four earned runs in 7.1 innings over eight games.
Overall in 2025, including seven games for Pittsburgh, he had a 3.78 ERA, 15 strikeouts and five walks in 16.2 innings. He went from April 18 to Sept. 1 between major league appearances after tearing a muscle in his back.
He was on the Phillies’ roster for the National League Division Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers but did not appear in any games.
In his major league career, Mayza is 20-9 with four saves and a 3.87 ERA in 382 games since making his debut in 2017. He has spent most of his pro career with the Toronto Blue Jays, who selected him in the 12th round of the 2013 draft. He also pitched in 15 regular-season games and three postseason games for the New York Yankees in 2024, including 1.1 scoreless innings in the World Series.
Here’s the Phillies’ roster:
Pitchers (13): Left-handers – Alvarado, Backhus, Banks, Jesus Luzardo, Mayza, Cristopher Sanchez; right-handers – Jonathan Bowlan, Jhoan Duran, Brad Keller, Aaron Nola, Andrew Painter, Zach Pop, Taijuan Walker.
Catchers: Rafael Marchan, J.T. Realmuto.
Infielders: Alec Bohm, Bryce Harper, Dylan Moore, Edmundo Sosa, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner.
Outfielders: Justin Crawford, Adolis Garcia, Otto Kemp, Brandon Marsh.
Designated hitter: Kyle Schwarber.
Disabled list: RHPs Orion Kerkering, Max Lazar, Zach Wheeler.
McCormick, who turns 31 on April 19, hit .222 with a one home run, four RBIs and a .605 OPS in 13 spring training games with Chicago. He appears likely to open the season with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs.
The Cubs opted to go with outfielders Michael Conforto and Dylan Carlson and former Phillies utility man Scott Kingery to round out their roster.
A right-handed hitter, McCormick batted .210 with one home run and five RBIs in 64 games last season for Houston. His best season was in 2023, when he hit .273 with 22 homers, 70 RBIs, 19 stolen bases and a .842 OPS.
McCormick, who made his major league debut in 2021 after being a 21st-round pick by Houston, has a lifetime average of .247 with 56 homers, 196 RBIs and a .734 OPS in 500 games.
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