10/24/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Six
Written by Steve Potter
This Phillies off-season I 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 five players per article. Here is part six - pitchers, highlighting the following :
Patrick Crotty
Ryan Cusick
Jack Dallas
Wyatt Danilowicz
Tucker Davidson
LH Patrick Crotty - 18 years old (19 on 5/20/27) - signed as an international free agent 3/26/26 - Brisbane QLD, Australia
2026 Stats : appeared in ten games (9.1 IP) with the FCL Phillies - 18 ER, 13 H, 14 BB, 6 BB - .351 BAA - very young and inexperienced - chalk the year up to learning.
2026 Notes : in the FCL games his FB ranged from 86 to 91 mph - also showed a slider, change up and curve. "His fastball and his slider are his best pitches hands down," commented Australia U-18 Baseball manager Jason Pospishil. "He is a really great kid. He is a big, tall, lean frame, and I think he has some more in the tank once he physically develops. A product of Redcliffe Baseball Club, Crotty has emerged as one of Australia’s top young arms. His fastball sits above 90 miles per hour and pairs with a sharp slider, a combination that drew strong interest from scouts during the Australian Youth Championships.” - 3/28/26 article on WBSC dot org.
2027 Outlook : likely returns for another FCL season
RH Ryan Cusick - 26 years old (27 on 11/12/26) - waiver claim from White Sox 6/8/25 - was Braves 1st round draft pick in 2021 - Wake Forest
2026 Stats : appeared in 33 games (ten starts) totaling 79.2 IP posting a 7.23 ERA with 77 K’s and 62 walks for Lehigh Valley. Began the season as a starter then converted to bulk relief - finished the season as a 1 to 2 IP reliever.
2026 Notes : has always had a big arm - throws a 96-98 mph fastball, slider, sinker, curve and cutter. Issues have been command and throwing strikes which continued this season.
2027 Outlook : could return to Lehigh Valley
RH Jack Dallas - 27 years old (28 on 12/18/26) - signed as an non drafted free agent 8/1/22 - Lamar University
2026 Stats : made 46 appearances (65 IP) recording a 4.85 ERA for Eastern League champion Reading with 73 K’s and 17 walks. Appeared in two post season games (4.1 IP) with a 2.08 ERA, 1 K and 3 walks.
2026 Notes : completed his third season at Reading (ended the 2024 year there with two appearances). Has always been a reliable strike throwing reliever capable of multi inning stints - often used to get out of jams in one inning and then to complete the next. Has a career 65% strike throwing percentage and 3.38 K/BB ratio. He made more game appearances this season than any other in his five year career to date and virtually matched his innings total from 2023 (69.1 this year & 69.2 in 2023). He features a fastball (92-95 mph),sinker, slider, cutter, change-up and curve. Gets big league level spin on his curve and cutter. Doesn’t scare in any game situation. He reminds me a great deal of Mark Leiter Jr in build, moxie and approach. His younger brother Chad is a pitcher in the Blue Jays organization and reached the major leagues this season.
2027 Outlook : should bump up to Lehigh Valley out of spring camp.
LH Wyatt Danilowicz - 22 years old (23 on 11/14/26) - 2026 8th round draft pick - Louisville
2026 Stats : did not pitch in a game after signing, instead worked at the complex in “draft camp” learning the regimen of pro baseball life and working on skills, strength and conditioning along with mental skills.
2026 Notes : Is from Traverse City, Michigan and graduated from Traverse City West HS. Lettered four years in HS and was rated as the No. 1 left-handed pitcher and No. 8 overall player in Michigan and the No. 39 left-handed pitcher in the nation by Perfect Game. - 2025 Academic All-ACC team. Baseball America - “has a fastball that averages around 90 mph and touches 94, but it has above-average riding life that helps the pitch play up and generate more whiffs than the velocity might suggest. He throws a pair of high-spin breaking balls, including a low-80s shorter slider with tight movement and an upper-70s curveball with big sweeping shape. He’ll also mix in a mid-80s changeup.”
2027 Outlook : likely opens the season with the Clearwater Threshers
LH Tucker Davidson - 30 years old (31 on 3/25/27) - signed 1/2/26 to a minor league free agent contract
2026 Stats : 6-6 record in 32 appearances (15 starts) with Lehigh Valley recording a 5.66 ERA in 98.2 IP with 84 K’s and 60 walks
2026 Notes : began the year as part of the AAA starting rotation and migrated to bulk relief and spot starting as the year progressed - best month was in July when he recorded a 2.51 ERA in six appearances (14.1 IP). He pitched the 2025 season in Korea for the Lotte Giants where he posted a 10-5 record in 22 starts (123.1 IP) with a 3.65 ERA - 119 strikeouts and 48 walks. Was previously drafted and signed as the Atlanta Braves 19th round selection in the 2016 draft from Tascosa HS in Amarillo, Texas. In his stateside career he advanced to the major leagues in 2020 and has made 56 appearances in the show (17 starts) from 2020 to 2024 with Atlanta, the Los Angeles Angels, Kansas City and Baltimore. He’s pitched 129.1 major league innings with a 5.76 ERA - 100 K’s and 68 walks. His fastball sits in the 90-94 mph range - features a fastball, slider, cutter, curve and changeup.
2027 Outlook : free agent
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