11/8/26 : Annual Phillies Minor League Player Notes - Pitchers - Part Twenty
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 pitchers - part twenty, highlighting the following :
Drew Titsworth
Adam Troy
Braydon Tucker
Zack Tukis
Lou Trivino
RH Drew Titsworth - 21 years old (22 on 4/27/27) - 2026 11th round pick - Clemson
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 Frankenmuth, Michigan and graduated from Frankenmuth HS - lettered four times in baseball, three times in football and two times in basketball in HS. Baseball America - “Titsworth ranked as the No. 453 player in the 2023 class out of high school, but made his way to Clemson where he pitched as a reliever initially before making his way into the rotation in 2025. He lost that starting job in 2026 for a Tigers’ team that struggled with pitching consistency and went 4-3, 5.09 in 35.1 innings. Titsworth’s underlying performance wasn’t as problematic. He struck out 26% of batters with just a 7% walk rate. A 6-foot-3, 215-pound righthander, Titsworth throws from a low, sidearm slot and uses both a four-seam and two-seam fastball. Both pitches check in around 93 mph and get up to 96-97 from a low release height with an extremely flat approach angle. Titsworth uses a low-80s slider as his primary secondary pitch, but it can back up and flatten out at times. He also has a low-80s changeup that he uses infrequently but flashes impressive armside fade. Titsworth is better than the results he showed in 2026, but now he’ll have to convince a pro team that there’s more than what meets the eye.”
2027 Outlook : will likely open the season with Clearwater.
RH Adam Troy - 23 years old (24 on 9/18/27) - 2026 17th round draft pick - University of Southern California (USC)
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 Houston Texas and graduated from Summer Creek HS. His dad played collegiate baseball at New Mexico State. In HS set a school record with 17 K’s in one game. Originally attended Pepperdine - transferred to USC in 2026. Baseball America - “Troy is a redshirt junior righthander who began his career as a reliever with Pepperdine before transferring to USC in 2026. In 2026 Troy posted a 4.28 ERA over 31 appearances and 33.2 innings, with a 25.7% strikeout rate and 12.6% walk rate. He’s a 6-foot-3, 215-pound reliever who attacks hitters with a heavy diet of his mid-90s cut-ride fastball. Troy sits around 93 mph and touches 95, but he misses plenty of bats with it thanks to it’s impressive movement. He generated a 26% miss rate with the fastball this spring. Troy also mixes a trio of secondaries that include a mid-80s gyro slider, a mid-80s changeup and a mid-to-upper-70s 12-to-6 curveball. Troy has a starter’s arsenal, but he’s pitched as a full-time reliever throughout his college career and is a below-average strike-thrower, with a 12.6% career walk rate.”
2027 Outlook : will likely open the season with Clearwater.
RH Braydon Tucker - 27 years old (28 on 7/19/27) - signed un-drafted free agent 7/19/23 - Lipscomb University
2026 Stats : made 22 appearances (21 starts) recording a 4.88 ERA in 103.1 IP with 95 K’s and 38 BB for Reading. Had an outstanding first two months (April & May) with a 1.43 ERA in 8 starts (44 IP). Went on the IL three separate times (5/7, 7/10 & 8/16) spending 36 days sidelined with shoulder discomfort - battled thru it.
2026 Notes : is from Brazil, Indiana and graduated from Northview High School. Originally attended Indiana University before transferring to Lipscomb. Has been a very solid pitcher who eats innings. Braydon has pitched both as a starter and bulk reliever. Throws from a three quarter arm slot and his sinker generally sits 90-94 mph, also has a split finger change up, cutter and sweeper. Gets after it, competes, throws strikes with strong command/control and hides the ball well with his delivery. Braydon competes and seemingly always keeps his team in the game with a chance to win, he’s an under the radar fella who to me has the tools, makeup and moxie to continue to push his way up the ladder.
2027 Outlook : should get a chance to bump up to pitch at the AAA level with Lehigh Valley. He’s Rule 5 eligible for the first time this off-season.
RH Zack Tukis - 24 years old (25 on 9/10/27) - signed un-drafted free agent 7/23/24 - Millersville University
2026 Stats : did not pitch in a game during the season - had TJ surgery in April, worked with the rehab team at the complex for the balance of the year.
2026 Notes : he’s from Mechanicsburg, PA and graduated from Cumberland Valley HS. Didn’t pitch or play in high school, trained at a baseball training center (Full Reps Training Center) where he worked alongside Phillies LHP Tim Mayza who mentored him. Zack walked on at Millersville making the team and reaching the upper nineties with his fastball plus developing a hard slider. In 2025 with the Threshers he showed a four seamer (94-98 mph), slider, cutter and sinker. Struggled with control (9.24 BB/9) and command yet with his raw overpowering stuff produced a lot of punch outs (9.41 K/9). Zack is a big fella at 6’5” who with his size and arsenal remains an intriguing developmental prospect once he returns from the injury sideline.
2027 Outlook : hopefully returns to game action before the season completes.
RH Lou Trivino - 35 years old (36 on 10/1/27) - signed as a free agent - 2/8/26 - was originally the A’s 2013 11th round draft pick - Slippery Rock University
2026 Stats : had a very solid year - 2.64 ERA in 37 appearances (44.1 IP) with 8 saves in 10 chances, 53 K’s, 15 walks, 10.76 K/9 and 3.05 BB/9 for Lehigh Valley. Made three appearances (3 IP) with the Phillies in the majors and two with the Orioles (3 IP). Re-signed with the Phillies in early August. Spent time on the IL in July with a right thoracic muscle spasm.
2026 Notes : veteran hurler who’s appeared in 337 major league games (338.1 IP) with the A’s, Yankees, Giants, Dodgers, Orioles and Phillies. Provided bullpen stability for the IronPigs showing a fastball in the 93-96 mph range, touching 97 with a sinker, changeup, cutter and sweeper. Still has the goods to pitch very effectively at the AAA level and likely in the show if afforded an extended opportunity.
2027 Outlook : free agent.
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