7/5/25 : An “Under the Radar” Promotion

In Spring Training Camp then twenty five year old RHP Daniel Harper turned heads with his four pitch mix, he appeared in four Grapefruit League games yielding no runs in 3.2 IP with three strikeouts. He broke camp with AA level Reading but after pitching in just one game returned to Clearwater on the IL with shoulder discomfort. Daniel returned to game action on rehab assignment with the Clearwater Threshers on 5/31/25. After four appearances with Clearwater he was activated by Reading on 6/17/25 and pitched in six games for them (0.00 ERA in 7.2 IP - 9 K’s/2 BB, a 0.65 WHIP allowing just three hits with an BAA (batting average against) of .120).  His efforts earned him a promotion to Lehigh Valley on 7/4/25.

Daniel turned 26 years old on 6/1/25 - he was the 2022 17th round draft selection from the University of Kentucky and pitched at two levels last season, beginning  the year with Jersey Shore and then promoted to Reading on 6/25/24. He appeared in a total of 44 games (51 IP) posting a 2.82 ERA with 61 K’s and 20 walks. Daniel’s fastball ranges from 92 to 95 mph - it has touched 98.  He was a FB/Cutter closer at Kentucky, as a pro he’s incorporated a couple more pitches.  Phillies Minor League Pitching Director Travis Hergert told me last summer  “Harper is a big arm that possesses a live fastball and hard slider. We leaned into a sinker that can show something going in to right handed hitters to open up options with the four seamer up and slider away. Along with cleaning up some ways he rotates to the plate, Harp was finally healthy and that helped his ability to bounce back from outing to outing and have his best stuff.”  Daniel told me  last summer that he uses a four pitch mix - “When I came to the Phillies in ‘22, I only threw a four seam and a cutter. Since then, I have added a slider as well as a sinker that opened new pitch sequences and parts of the zone that I wasn’t able to throw to before.  I’m primarily throwing my four seamer, sinker, and slider but also mix in the cutter more when the situation calls for it.“  The sinker has split finger fastball type tumble.

With the trade deadline approaching it’s prudent to get a better handle on potential internal options that might be able to contribute to the big club. Since the Major League Baseball is only used at the Triple A level in the minors it’s also smart to get select hurlers used to throwing that type of baseball instead of the higher seamed version used at the other levels. Daniel recently told me “My season has been much shorter than usual because of my rehab stint. I think the biggest thing going forward is to let the game come to me.” The young man has the tools to be a solid contributor in high impact innings not only at just the AAA level but also eventually in the big leagues. Over the next few weeks he will seemingly get the opportunity to show to not only the Phillies leadership but also scouts and decision makers from other organizations his capabilities at the highest level in the minor leagues. Over the past few seasons I’ve watched him and the little bit I’ve gotten to know him during that time I believe he’s a big league caliber reliever in the making who can excel.

As always we will continue to watch, monitor and report.  There’s one other fellow “under the radar” reliever I hope gets the same opportunity soon - Reading right hander Tommy McCollum has, in my opinion, also earned a shot to show his skillset at the AAA level.

Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️

Daniel Harper

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