The Phillies have signed 29 year old free agent RHP Joel Kuhnel to a minor league contract. Kuhnel was the 2016 11th round draft selection of the Cincinnati Reds from the University of Texas- Arlington. He made his major league debut in 2019 with the Reds and has pitched in 82 major league games with Cincinnati, Houston and Tampa Bay including appearing in five games with the Rays in 2024 (8 IP - 1.13 ERA). The Rays out-righted him from their 40 man roster on 11/4/24 and he declared free agency.
MLB Trade Rumors Darragh McDonald wrote on 11/4/24 “Kuhnel has been bouncing around the league in recent years, having gone from the Reds to the Astros, Blue Jays, Brewers and then Rays via waiver claims, small trades or minor league deals since June of 2023. As a player who has been outrighted in the past, he had the right to elect free agency this time and exercised that right. He has strong velocity but has turned that into more ground balls than strikeouts thus far. In 93 2/3 big league innings, he has a 5.86 ERA, 18.7% strikeout rate, 5.9% walk rate and 52% ground ball rate. He’s now out of options, which will limit his roster flexibility going forward.”
Kuhnel has also appeared in 242 minor league games (one start) with 296 IP and a 3.59 ERA. According to Baseball Savant he features a mid nineties four seamer and sinker that’s posted in the 94-98 mph range and has reached 100 mph in the minors, a slider, change up and curve. He’s a big fella at 6’5” 290 with a thick frame - will likely get an invitation to big league spring training - another power arm reliever who could be assigned to the AAA roster at Lehigh Valley.
From a fan’s view welcome to the Phillies Mr. Kuhnel !
Happy Day, Happy Baseball ⚾️
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