10/29/25 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Part Thirteen - Pitchers

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 Thirteen of the pitchers highlighting the following :

Adonis Medina

Michael Mercado

Tommy McCollum

Naoel Mejia

Marcus Morgan

RH Adonis Medina  - 28 years old (29 on 12/18/25) - signed as a free agent 7/4/25

2025 Stats :  appeared in ten games (seven starts) with Lehigh Valley posting a 3.41 ERA in 31.2 IP - 29 K’s, 25 walks. Prior to coming to the Phillies organization he pitched for Tacoma (Mariners AAA affiliate) appearing in 27 games (all in relief) with 34 IP - 26 K’s, 18 walks. Has appeared in 19 major league games (35.1 IP) with a 5.35 ERA, 27 K’s, 13 BB with the Phillies and Mets from 2020 to 2022. Has pitched in 221 minor league games (702 IP) with a 3.86 ERA - 632 K’s and 268 walks.

2025 Notes :  was released by the Mariners on 6/23 - the Phillies had a need for starting pitching at LHV and re-signed Adonis who was originally signed by the Phillies as an international free agent from the Dominican Republic on 5/29/14. He pitched in the organization till 3/16/22 when the Pirates claimed him off waivers. Since then he has been with the Mets, Nationals and Mariners - he also pitched for Kia in the Korean Baseball Organization. Adonis featured a changeup, cutter, sinker (90-93 mph), sweeper and four seamer this past season primarily pitching backwards to record outs. He’s now pitching for Licey in the Dominican Winter League as he’s done since 2020. Is slated to be a minor league free agent.

RH Michael Mercado  - 26 years old (27 on 4/15/26) - acquired in a trade from Rays 11/6/23

2025 Stats :  appeared in 42 games (49 IP) with Lehigh Valley posting a 4.59 ERA with 53 K’s and 29 walks - made three major league appearances (3 IP). Finished the season with his best two months (August & September) appearing in 16 games (20 IP) recording a 2.70 ERA with 20 K’s and 10 walks.

2025 Notes :  has a power arm - four seamer (95-99 mph), cutter, big break curve and change-up. A tall (6’4”) and slender young man who pitches downhill - has had control issues in throwing repeated strikes - when he throws quality strikes has the stuff to succeed as a major leaguer. He is on the 40 man roster. Was the Rays 2nd round draft pick in the 2017 draft from Westview HS in San Diego, CA. Quiet demeanor, likable young man - he was a Stanford commit before signing with the Rays instead. Still has plenty of time to make his mark in the major leagues - after his strong finish to the 2025 season that might just come next spring.

RH Tommy McCollum - 26 years old (27 on 6/8/26) - signed as un-drafted free agent 7/20/21 - Wingate University, NC

2025 Stats :  began the year with Jersey Shore - 7 appearances (8 IP) with a 1.13 ERA, 10 K’s, 3 BB, 0.75 WHIP, .120 BAA. Promoted to Reading on 5/1 - 37 games (45 IP) with a 3.20 ERA, 48 K’s, 11 walks, .225 BAA. Promoted to Lehigh Valley on 9/13 - made three appearances (2.2 IP). Was outstanding in May and June - 15 games (22 IP) with a 1.23 ERA and a 0.45 WHIP - 19 K’s, 3 walks. So far in the AFL has a 4.15 ERA in 4 games (4.1 IP).

2025 Notes :  he’s from Clemmons, North Carolina - has been the definition of a strikeout pitcher in his minor league career (11.53 K’s per nine) with two put-away deliveries, a heavy fastball that generally sits in the 93-96 mph range but can reach upper nineties and a splitter that drops off the table along with a cutter. Tommy is an imposing figure on the hill at 6’5” and has an easy downward plane delivery, the baseball gets on the batter quickly and comes out of the hand with lots of movement. He improved his strike throwing rate this summer bumping up to 65% from a career average of 61%. Is now pitching in the Arizona Fall League (AFL) for the Surprise Saguaros. Could be a bullpen option next season at the major league level. Really nice young man who has great family support. He is Rule 5 eligible this off-season.

Pitching Coordinator Travis Hergert :   “Tommy made huge strides this season. He found his velocity, improved his strike throwing and lowered his walk rate significantly. The splitter is his go-to pitch and he has developed a solid cutter that he can land early in counts for strikes.”

RH  Naoel Mejia - 23 years old (24 on 7/5/26) - signed as an international free agent 4/29/23 - Santo Domingo, DR

2025 Stats :  did not pitch - underwent Tommy John surgery early in the year and spent the entirety of the season at the Complex in Clearwater working with the rehab team. His first two seasons were in the DSL where he appeared in 28 games (all as a reliever) posting a 4.17 ERA in 36.2 IP with 41 K’s and 29 walks.

2025 Notes :  he’s a big fella at 6’5” who has a power arm profile when healthy - four seam fastball in the 92-97 mph range, slider and sinker. Was slated for stateside FCL action before being injured. Likely looking at a mid to late 2026 return to the mound depending on how the balance of the rehab process goes.

RH Marcus Morgan  - 22 years old (23 on 12/27/25) - drafted in 9th round of the 2024 draft from University of Iowa

2025 Stats :  appeared in 8 games (four starts) with the Clearwater Threshers totaling 13.1 IP with 12 K’s and 24 walks before being placed on the IL on 5/16 - finished the year on the IL working with the rehab team at the complex.

2025 Notes :  he’s from Iowa City, Iowa and graduated from Iowa City West HS where he was an All-State selection in both baseball and football (QB) and All-Conference in basketball. Comes from a very athletic family - his mom and dad both played collegiate basketball, his sister played in the WNBA and his brother played basketball in the G League and is now playing for Paris overseas in the EuroLeague. Two other sisters played college basketball at Northern Iowa. His best offering is reportedly his slider, also throws a four seam fastball and sinker (90-95 mph), cutter, changeup and curve. Had difficulty throwing strikes this summer which may have been partially attributed to the injury setback. He was noted for his athleticism as a collegian and a sound delivery but also a lack of control/command. Baseball America in their draft article said that he has “high spin rates across his pitch mix, but needs to take big steps forward with his control to become effective on a consistent basis and give himself a chance as a pro.”  Marcus threw six side bullpens in August interspersed with three live BP sessions before breaking rehab camp - presumably will be ready for 2026 Spring Training Camp and another shot at game play.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

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