In 2019 graduated from Magnolia West (Texas) High School in Magnolia, Texas, where as a senior he was the district's Most Valuable Player while a second-team All-State selection...Played one season, in 2020, at McLennan Community College in Waco, Texas...Played in the 2018 Perfect Game National Showcase...Follow on X @phillip__connor.
2025
Began working exclusively out of the bullpen in 2025 after 89 professional starts from 2021-24...Posted 12 multi-strikeout games from 8/17 (day of second recall from AAA-Louisville) through the end of the season, most among all Major League relievers in that time...Has produced 14 multi-strikeout games through his first 21 career relief appearances (6/20-9/28), tied with Robert Stephenson (2017-19) for second-most by a Red in that span since 1893 behind Tejay Antone (15g, 2020-21)...From 9/5 to 9/26 went a career-high eight consecutive appearances without allowing a hit, tied for the third longest streak by a Red in a single season in the last 125 years, behind only John Franco (11 G, 1987) and Sean Marshall (10 G, 2012)...Recorded five wins in his first 19 career relief apps (6/24-9/26), tied for second-most by a Red in that span since 1893, behind Tom Parrott (six, 1893-95)...Won each of his first five career decisions as a reliever, dating back to 6/24 vs. NYY...is the fifth-longest streak by a Reds relief pitcher to begin his career since the mound moved to its current distance in 1893...Opened the 2025 season on AAA-Louisville s injured list (right shoulder fatigue)...had two separate stints with the Reds this season (6/20-6/29, 8/17-end of regular season)...Recalled from AAA-Louisville on 6/20 and made his 2025 debut that night at STL...in his next appearance (6/24 vs. NYY), earned his second career win...appeared in two more games before being optioned back to the Bats on 6/30...recalled for the second and final time on 8/17...Recorded multiple strikeouts in each of the first six road relief apps of his career, all of which came this season (6/30-8/26)...was the first Red since 1893 with two-plus punchouts in each of the first six road relief outings of his career. Was the third CIN reliever since 1893 with two-plus strikeouts in each of his first six road outings of a season (Aroldis Chapman, 10 G, 2014 John Tsitouris, six games, 1964)...Produced multiple strikeouts in five straight apps from 6/30-8/26...became the 11th Reds rookie in the expansion era (since 1961) with at least two punchouts in five straight relief outings (last: Fernando Cruz, 2023)...His four wins in September were tied with BOS Garrett Crochet for second-most among all Major League pitchers, fewer than only NYY Max Fried (five)...Posted a 4-0 record across 11 appearances in September, becoming the ninth Reds reliever in the last 50 years with at least four wins and no losses in a calendar month (last: Reiver Sanmartin, 4-0, July 2022)...Was one of just four Major League pitchers with five-plus wins and no losses...Made his Postseason debut in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card Series at LAD...became the first Reds rookie to pitch in the Postseason since J.J. Hoover (G4, 2012 NLDS vs. SF).
2024
Posted a 10.11 ERA in his first 14 starts (57 IP, 79 H, 67R/64ER, 50 BB, 53 K, 15 HR, .336 OBA) of the season for Louisville before he was optioned to the Arizona Complex League Reds on 6/25...Did not pitch in a game for the ACL Reds before returning to Louisville on 8/20...Went 1-3 with a 2.49 ERA in five starts for Louisville upon his return (21.2 IP, 20 H, 6R/6ER, 10 BB, 24 K, 1 HR, .238 OBA)...Made six appearances for the Glendale Desert Dogs in the prestigious Arizona Fall League, including four starts (19.1 IP, 17 H, 11R/9ER, 14 BB, 26 K, .236 OBA).
2023
Was a Baseball America second team Minor League All-Star, an MiLB Class AA All-Star and the International League's Pitcher of the Week for 7/17-7/23...was the only Louisville pitcher to earn the weekly award in 2023...Entered the season rated by Baseball America the ninth-best prospect in the organization...Spent most of the season in the Minor Leagues, where in 24 starts and one relief appearance he combined to finish 4-5, 3.86 with one save (105ip, 154k)...Began the season at Chattanooga (14gs, 2-2, 3.34)...when promoted to Louisville on 6/28, was leading the Minor Leagues in strikeouts (111k, 64.2ip)...was his first stint at Class AAA (11g, 10gs, 1sv, 2-3, 4.69)...At 22 years old, made his Major League debut with five starts in September for the Reds...Made his first two Major League appearances on 9/5 vs Sea and 9/13 at Det after he was added to the roster as a substitute player when reliever RHP Fernando Cruz and starters RHP Hunter Greene, RHP Ben Lively & Brandon Williamson went on the COVID-19 injured list...In the 7-6 walkoff win on 9/5 vs Sea made his Major League debut after 66 Minor League appearances , including 65 starts, and recorded seven strikeouts in 4.2 innings...became the 12th Reds pitcher to record at least seven strikeouts in his first career appearance...struck out his first career batter faced, J.P. Crawford (looking)...allowed all five runs on a pair of home runs, to Teoscar Hernández (2-run in the first inning) and to Julio Rodríguez (3-run in the fifth inning)...was his 12th career appearance and 11th start above Class AA...Was one of six Reds pitchers this season to make his Major League debut in a start (Levi Stoudt, Brandon Williamson, Andrew Abbott, Lyon Richardson, Carson Spiers)...Became the 16th of 16 Reds players to make his Major League debut this season, the most of any team...Became the 23rd of 23 rookies to appear in a game for the Reds, also the most of any team in the Major Leagues, and the 64th of 66 Reds players overall...After two starts was returned to Louisville as a substitute player on 9/14, when RHP Ben Lively was reinstated from the COVID-19 injured list...didn’t pitch for the Bats before he rejoined the Reds in time to make the start on 9/18 vs the Twins...On 9/18 vs Min, in his third career start, earned his first Major League win...Became only the fourth Reds pitcher, within his first three career appearances , to throw at least 7.0 innings with three or fewer hits allowed, two or fewer runs allowed, one or fewer walks allowed and seven or more strikeouts...joined Travis Wood (7/10/10 at Phi), Johnny Cueto (4/3/08 vs Ari) and Mo Sanford (8/9/91 at SD)...In the 13-12 loss on 9/23 vs Pit, left with nine strikeouts and a 9-1 lead but was charged with two runs scored off Alex Young...the Reds held a 9-0 lead through the third inning...entering that day's games, in 2023 Major League teams were 205-0 when trailing by nine or more runs at any point in a game...dating back to a 10-9 loss in 10 innings on 4/28/2004 at Mil (led 9-0), the Reds had won 111 consecutive games when leading by at least nine runs...was the biggest comeback win in Pirates history...they entered that game 0-819 when trailing by at least nine runs...In that 13-2 loss on 9/23 vs Pit, at age 22 years, 142 days was the youngest Reds pitcher to record at least nine strikeouts in a start since Johnny Cueto had 10 strikeouts on 4/3/08 vs Ari at age 22 years, 48 days...In his final start of the season, a 15-6 loss on 9/30 at StL, became the first pitcher in the Major Leagues to throw in a start at least 12 pitches without a strike since SD’s LaMarr Hoyt (13 pitches, 3bb, 1hbp) did it on 9/13/1986 vs Hou...courtesy @EliasSports...Made the only relief appearance of his professional career on 8/13 for Louisville at St. Paul...threw 2.1 hitless innings to save the 8-6 Bats win in a game shortened to six innings by rain...Was a non-roster invitee to 2023 Major League spring training camp.
2022
In his first season in the organization went 5-8, 3.78 in 24 starts at Class A Dayton and Class AA Chattanooga... Began the season with the Dragons...was promoted to the Lookouts on 6/28... Ranked among Reds Minor League leaders in opponents' BA (1st, .220), ERA (2nd, 3.78), WHIP (2nd, 1.40), strikeouts (3rd, 150), starts (T3rd, 24) and innings pitched (7th, 109.2).
2021
In his first professional season went 7-4, 4.62 in 17 starts at Class A Modesto and advanced Class A Everett...In 76.0 innings allowed just 64 hits while recording 111 strikeouts...Ranked among the Low-A West pitching leaders in wins (T3rd) and strikeouts (9th)...Recorded 12 strikeouts on 8/5 at Stockton and 13 strikeouts on 9/9 vs Inland Empire...Was Low-A West Pitcher of the Week for 8/2-8/8, 2021.
