10/27/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Eight
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 eight on pitchers highlighting the following :
Drake Fellows
Matthew Fisher
Tristan Garnett
Evan Gates
Yordanis Guerra
RH Drake Fellows - 28 years old (29 on 3/6/27) - signed as a minor league free agent 5/21/26 - was 2019 Padres 6th round draft pick
2026 Stats : appeared in 20 games (19 starts) for Lehigh Valley recording a 5.53 ERA in 94.1 IP with 54 K’s and 33 walks with a 6-5 win loss record.
2026 Notes : had planned to pitch in the Mexican League for the Saraperos de Saltillo after being released by the Yankees organization on 3/22/26 but never appeared in a game, signed with the Phillies. Drafted by the San Diego Padres from Vanderbilt - traded to the Pirates organization on 1/19/21 and signed by the Yankees as a free agent on 12/12/25 before being released in March by New York. He’s 6’5” and uses his slider/sweeper as his primary and best offering along with a fastball that ranges from 90-95 mph and a changeup. Provided veteran experience at the AAA level.
2027 Outlook : free agent
RH Matthew Fisher - 20 years old (21 on 3/14/27) - drafted in 7th rd of the 2025 draft from Memorial HS, Evansville, IN
2026 Stats : began the year with the FCL Phillies - 6 starts - 4.86 ERA in 16.2 IP, 22 K’s, 9 BB. Promoted to Clearwater 6/15 - 9 appearances (8 starts) - 33 IP - 3.82 ERA, 38 K’s, 12 BB. Overall 2-2, 4.17 ERA, 15 appearances (14 starts) - 49.2 IP, 60 K’s, 21 BB - 62% strike throwing rate, 10.87 K/9. Had a great July - 3 starts (13 IP), 2.08 ERA, 14 K’s, 3 BB.
2026 Notes : has a low nineties fastball (90-93 mph), slider, curve, cutter and changeup. Slider is excellent. He’s a very athletic pitcher who with added strength and growing into his body more will certainly pick up velocity. Is a big fella at 6’3” - didn’t throw his curve ball as much this season however I saw it first hand in ST and it’s a top to bottom knee buckler. Has a smooth delivery and hides the ball, mixes his pitches well. Pitching Development Director Travis Hergert said that “Matt has shown good ability to pitching and command of his arsenal. His velocity floor will rise with physical development.”
2027 Outlook : either returns to Clearwater or bumps up to Jersey Shore as part of opening day rotation.
LH Tristan Garnett - 28 years old (29 on 3/29/27) - signed as a free agent 7/20/21 - Cal State Dominguez Hills, CA
2026 Stats : began the year with Reading - 32 appearances - 38.1 IP - 5.17 ERA - 38 K’s, 21 BB. Promoted to Lehigh Valley on 8/20 - 6 appearances - 4.2 IP - 11.57 ERA - 6 K’s - 7 BB. Overall - 38 appearances - 5.86 ERA - 43 IP - 44 K’s, 28 BB.
2026 Notes : straight over the top unique delivery from a 6’6” frame that presents the baseball to the hitter as if it’s right on top of them with his extended release point. Has an outstanding change-up which is his predominant pitch - fastball sits in the 91 to 93 mph range - change up has a 10 to 13 mph differential from same arm slot and arm speed - very effective pitch (swing and miss delivery). Also throws a slider and cutter. One of the nicest young men we’ve met and is highly respected by teammates and coaches/staff in the organization. Had a struggle this season with control and command.
Tristan’s reflections on 2026 season : “In a season full of ups and downs, I was forced to be more resilient than I’ve ever had to be in my career. The only way to approach that is to truly show up to the field the same guy every single day; regardless of what the box score said the night before. To me, that’s a trait all bonafide big leaguers possess. I underperformed what I know I’m capable of and have shown, but I think I grew more this year than any other year. For this off-season I plan to take the information I received this season and make it autonomous with who I am as a pitcher and prove that I am a major league consideration for the 2027 season.”
2027 Outlook : a return to Lehigh Valley out of Spring Camp with a goal to prove he’s a big leaguer.
RH Evan Gates - 28 years old (29 on 1/13/27) - minor league rule 5 selection 12/10/25 from San Francisco Giants - originally signed by Giants 7/23/21 as in-drafted free agent from North Carolina A&T
2026 Stats : spent the majority of the season at Reading - 40 appearances - 3.07 ERA - 58.2 IP - 57 K’s - 20 BB. Short stint at Lehigh Valley - 3 games - 3.2 IP.
2026 Notes : was used in one to two inning stints in key game situations - finished the season very strong with a 2.35 ERA in four September regular season appearances (7.2 IP) and then two scoreless appearances (2 IP) in the playoffs. Was a big clubhouse presence for a young team - features a FB in the 90-94 mph range, curve and cutter. “ Is effective because of how he mixes his arsenal and attacks hitters. His low-90s fastball has solid carry up in the zone while his cutter has just enough cutting action to achieve horizontal separation. His low-80s knuckle curve is his best pitch with a sharp break, exceptional velocity, and no pop out of the hand, giving it plenty of deception. While Gates has solid at-best stuff, there's enough deception going on to make him a potential big-league reliever.” - SI article - 1/30/23. Evan is playing winter ball in Venezuela this off-season.
Evan’s reflections on the season : He told me this about his league championship experience at Reading “Ive spent some time in the Eastern league during my career and have been put out by the Seawolves a couple times so that felt good to get some revenge at our place! This was the closest team I’ve ever been apart of , from our post win celebration dancing , State chopping, hanging out outside the field, and bus rides. It all came together while we got on the field because we played like a team, something that’s rare in the minors and it showed with how every one picked each other up down the stretch!”
2027 Outlook : he’s Rule Five eligible again - likely returns to pursue a bump up to Lehigh Valley out of spring camp.
LH Yordanis Guerra - 20 years old (21 on 9/19/27) - signed as an international free agent 1/15/25 - Dominican Republic
2026 Stats : made 14 appearances (seven starts) posting a 2-0 record in 36.2 IP with 50 K’s and 24 walks for the FCL Phillies. Promoted to the Clearwater Threshers 7/27 - 6 starts (22 IP) with a 6.14 ERA - 19 K’s, 14 BB. Overall he was 2-1 - 20 appearances - 13 starts - 58.2 IP, 69 K’s, 38 BB.
2026 Notes : fastball range 90-95 mph, touched 96 - slider and changeup. Only in his second professional season - showed flashes of promise - good size at 6’3” - decent mechanics - has shown strikeout capabilities - will need to reel in command and control but has tools to develop.
2027 Outlook : likely return to open the season with Clearwater.
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