10/17/25 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Five

This Phillies off-season I will continue the series  “Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes” with profiles presented in groupings by defensive positions for the players who were still part of the minor league player development program at season’s end. The notes will reflect statistics, my thoughts on each player and input from them and others as I have it. They are presented in order by position and then alphabet in groupings of players per article. Here’s Part Five of the pitchers highlighting the following :

Aaron Combs

Richie Cortese

Gabe Craig

Ryan Cusick

Jack Dallas

Ryan Degges

RH Aaron Combs - 23 years old (24 on 12/28/25) - acquired in trade with White Sox 1/1/25 for LHP Tyler Gilbert

2025 Stats :  pitched in ten games (nine starts) for Jersey Shore accumulating 32.1 IP with 37 K’s and 15 walks - went on the IL on 6/7 - made a rehab appearance with Clearwater on 9/3 (one scoreless inning - two hits) to end the regular season and on 9/9 in the playoffs (one scoreless inning - one hit, three strikeouts). He was Chicago’s 8th round draft selection in the 2024 draft from the University of Tennessee. In two collegiate seasons at Tennessee he appeared in 50 games (66.2 IP) posting a 3.24 ERA with 105 K’s and 30 walks. Prior to his time at Knoxville he pitched one season for the College of Central Florida where he was a starting pitcher that helped lead the team to a 47-17 record and a trip to the 2022 NJCAA Division I Junior College World Series.

2025 Notes :  Aaron grew up in Sarasota, Florida and played High School baseball at two prestigious programs, the Inspiration Academy and IMG. He transferred to IMG for his senior year. He played club baseball for FTB-Gulf Coast, FTB-Tucci and Beast Mode Prime. I asked him if he ever had time to watch any major league spring training games and he said he never did because most of the time he was playing in games himself. In his last appearance at Tennessee he recorded the final out to clinch the 2024 NCAA championship. It was the first National Baseball championship in the history of the program. He throws from a slightly lower than 3/4 arm slot and generally sits in the 91-94 mph range with his fastball - secondaries are a slider, change-up, cutter and curve. Has a great outlook and personality - a winner’s attitude who’s been part of multiple successful teams.

Pitching Coordinator Travis Hergert : “Deceptive heater with lower release. Will transition to the bullpen full time and the hope is that he will capture more fastball velocity. Showed really good development with a hard slider and change-up as a starter. Has his slurve shaped curve ball as well he uses for put away. Hopefully has a healthy ‘26 season.”

Aaron’s 2025 reflections : “Playing six days a week taught me to take advantage of the time and make sure I’m going to be ready. I’ve learned a lot about my own routine and how to figure out how to fix things in season.“

RH Richie Cortese - 22 years old (23 on 4/22/25) - drafted in 17th round of the 2025 draft from Lander University, SC

2025 Stats :  did not pitch in a pro game after signing - instead trained at the complex. He finished his activities with four side bullpens in August. In his four year collegiate career he appeared in 34 games striking out 78 batters but also walking 58 - his time at the complex was partially spent working on ways to harness command and control.

2025 Notes :  he’s from Laurel, Montana and initially pitched collegiately at Dickinson State University in North Dakota before transferring to Lander University. He was a two way player at Dickinson but turned to full time pitching at Lander. He was quoted in a September article saying “I would say the Phillies are getting someone who has never had it easy, someone who has had to force his way into the picture through hard work. I wasn’t a highly recruited guy out of high school, I had to work really hard and force myself into the spot. It wasn’t always easy, and it took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to get to this point. I’m always going to try to find the solutions to get better every day.” Features a four seam fastball (93-95 mph touches 97), slider and a curveball. He’s a big fella at 6’6” 240 - will participate in Fall High Performance Camp - likely breaks 2026 ST with the Clearwater Threshers.

RH Gabe Craig  - 24 years old (25 on 7/3/26) - drafted in 5th round of 2025 draft from the Baylor University

2025 Stats :  appeared in three regular season games with Clearwater (3 IP, no runs or hits, 1 BB, 5 K’s) and one playoff game (1 IP, 1 R, 2 H, 1 K) after spending the majority of his time after signing training at the complex where he threw five side bullpens and one live BP before being activated on 8/30. Was dominant in college in his senior year at Baylor - 0.56 ERA (led the nation) in 24 appearances (32 IP) with a 0.50 WHIP - a whopping 51 K’s against just 3 walks - was chosen as a finalist for the College Baseball Foundation National Pitcher of the Year Award.

2025 Notes :  I watched a bullpen session from behind the catcher on 8/19 - big fella (6’5”) who releases ball well out front - lots of upper body in delivery - short arm release - plenty of giddy up on fastball - ball darts - slider has great bite  - sweeping action side to side - really late break - a ton of movement - it’s easy to see it as a swing and miss delivery. Prior to the draft his slider/sweeper was drawing comparison to Orion Kerkering’s. He was 93-95 mph with his four seam fastball (touches higher) in his Thresher outings and also showed the big movement slider (2600 to 2800 rpm spin rate). The slider was rated as the best in the draft by Jim Callis of MLB. He’s from Tyler, Texas and is part of a big family (five siblings) - after HS went to Tyler Junior College initially and played one season there before transferring to Texas A&M - after one year at A&M transferred back to Tyler JC for another year before ultimately transferring to Baylor where he played three years while also earning academic All-American honors. Anxious to see him in ST action - could bump thru the system quickly as a back end type reliever.

Pitching Coordinator Travis Hergert :   “Very talented with a big league slider.”

RH Ryan Cusick - 25 years old (26 on 11/12/25) - waiver claim from White Sox 6/8/25

2025 Stats :  appeared in 19 games (27.1 IP) with Lehigh Valley posting a 7.90 ERA with 35 K’s and 13 walks - was either on and pitched really well or innings blew up quickly on him. Prior to coming to the Phillies pitched at the AAA level in Las Vegas (A’s) and Toledo (Tigers) in 14 games (15.2 IP) recording a 6.32 ERA.

2025 Notes :  I chatted with him briefly in Clearwater at the complex a few days after he came to the Phillies, nice young fella with good outlook - he was the 2021 1st round draft pick of the Atlanta Braves from Wake Forest -grew up in Massachusetts. Was traded to Oakland in 2022 as part of the Matt Olson transaction. Has a big arm - throws a 96-98 mph fastball, slider, sinker, curve and cutter. Issues have been command and throwing strikes. He has yet to find consistency. Spring Camp could be key, the arm and stuff play - particularly as a reliever - if can harness it.

RH Jack Dallas  - 26 years old (27 on 12/18/25) - signed as an non drafted free agent 8/1/22 - Lamar University

2025 Stats :  pitched in 31 games (three as an opener) accumulating 49.1 IP for Reading - posted a 3.47 ERA with 49 K’s and 14 walks. Was placed on the IL on 8/13 to 9/13. He’s a multi inning reliever who went two innings or more in fourteen of his thirty-one outings but never three innings. Is a strike thrower (68 % for 2025). Has a career 2.66 ERA in 120 appearances over 179.1 IP with 187 K’s and 60 walks (3.12 K/BB ratio).

2025 Notes :  a great competitor who will take the ball in any situation and will generally deliver quality work. Was a closer in college. Jack has always been a bullpen stabilizer throughout his Phillies career who goes multiple innings. He features a fastball (92-95 mph),sinker, slider, cutter, change-up and curve. Gets big league level spin on his curve and cutter. He reminds me a great deal of Mark Leiter Jr in build, moxie and approach. His brother Chad is a pitching prospect in the Blue Jays organization. Jack was chosen to pitch this Fall in the Arizona Fall League - in his first two outings there he has pitched five scoreless innings. Is Rule 5 eligible for the first time this off-season. He’s a good candidate next spring to break camp with AAA level Lehigh Valley and perhaps provide innings at the major league level as well. Smart, throws strikes, competes, has high quality pitches - all great skills to have - just sayin.

RH Ryan Degges  - 23 years old (24 on 9/9/26)  - drafted in 17th round of the 2024 draft from UNC Charlotte

2025 Stats : made 22 appearances (18 starts) for Clearwater posting a 3.89 ERA in 81 IP with 72 K’s and 50 walks. Had an outstanding start to the season (first nine games in April/May - 33.1 IP, 0.86 ERA, 38 K’s, 19 BB). Struggled in July - 12.19 ERA in 10.1 IP but then finished the season well. Generally went three to five innings per outing - longest outing was seven scoreless frames on June 20th against Dunedin in a combined four hit shutout with Kevin Warunek.

2025 Notes :  Ryan is from Knoxville, Tennessee and graduated from the Christian Academy of Knoxville HS where he was was a first team All-State and All-Region selection and also won the District Offensive Player of the Year during his senior year. Ryan was a starter during the team’s 2019 state championship run. The team went 36-9 and won the program’s fourth state title. After graduating he enrolled at Colombia State Community College where he was a NJCAA First Team All-Academic. He pitched and played the outfield - transferred to UNC Charlotte and became a full time pitcher. After signing with the Phillies he spent the balance of the 2024 season training at the complex. His first official pro game action came this season. His fastball is in the 92-96 mph range which he couples with a sinker, slider, change-up, cutter and curve. He was a reliever in college so starting was a return endeavor for him to his high school days - he handled it very well. The fastball plays up with ride, it’s linked to his release point which is somewhat unique. The slider has sweeper action. When he throws strikes consistently he’s difficult to square up - the key moving forward will becoming more adept at doing so. I think he’s got a strong chance of bumping up to Jersey Shore out of 2026 spring camp.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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