Evan Phillips Bio
Evan John Phillips, born on September 11, 1994, is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Over the course of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he has played for the Atlanta Braves, Baltimore Orioles, Tampa Bay Rays, and Los Angeles Dodgers. A reliable relief pitcher known for his work in high-leverage situations, Phillips developed into a closer during his time in Los Angeles.
Originally drafted by the Kansas City Royals out of high school, Phillips chose to attend college and was later selected by the Braves. Across several organizations, he built a reputation for striking out batters and performing in pressure moments, eventually becoming a key piece of the Dodgers bullpen during their deep postseason runs.
Early Life and Background
Evan John Phillips grew up in Clayton, North Carolina, where he attended Clayton High School. As a young athlete in a community with a strong baseball tradition, he developed his skills on the mound and drew attention from professional scouts before finishing high school. His father, Joe, played baseball at Anne Arundel Community College, giving Phillips an early connection to the game through family.
Coming out of high school, Phillips was talented enough to be selected in the 33rd round of the 2012 Major League Baseball draft by the Kansas City Royals. He opted not to sign with the Royals, choosing instead to continue his baseball development at the collegiate level.
Phillips enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington, where he played college baseball for the UNC Wilmington Seahawks. Over the course of his college career, he made 37 appearances and posted a 6–6 record with a 5.07 ERA, showing the kind of workload and experience that prepared him for a professional career.
Path to Professional Baseball
After his college career at UNC Wilmington, Phillips entered the 2015 Major League Baseball draft, where the Atlanta Braves selected him in the 17th round. He began his professional journey in the Braves’ minor league system, splitting his first season between the Danville Braves and Rome Braves, where he combined for a 2–3 record and a 2.73 ERA across 29 and 2/3 relief innings.
In 2016, Phillips advanced through the system, pitching for the Carolina Mudcats and the Mississippi Braves. Between the two teams, he recorded an 8–4 record with a 3.02 ERA in 43 relief appearances, a performance that earned him a spot in the Arizona Fall League with the Salt River Rafters after the season. The following year, he continued his development with Mississippi and the Gwinnett Braves, working to refine his command on the mound.
Phillips opened the 2018 season with the Gwinnett Stripers, the Braves’ Triple-A affiliate, and was promoted to the major league roster in June of that year. He made his MLB debut on July 3, 2018, pitching 2 and 1/3 innings against the New York Yankees and recording a strikeout of Kyle Higashioka, although he also allowed a home run in the outing.
Evan Phillips Career
Early Career (2018–2020)
Following his brief stint with the Braves in 2018, Phillips was part of a major trade package sent to the Baltimore Orioles on July 31, 2018, in exchange for Kevin Gausman and Darren O’Day. With Baltimore, he struggled to find consistency, allowing 11 earned runs in 5 and 1/3 innings across five major league appearances, though he also pitched for the Triple-A Norfolk Tides during that period.
Phillips continued to bounce between Norfolk and Baltimore in 2019, appearing in 25 games for the Orioles and 27 games for the Tides. In the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, he appeared in 14 games and posted a 5.02 ERA with 20 strikeouts across 14 and 1/3 innings. After the season, he was outrighted off the 40-man roster but remained in the Baltimore system.
Tampa Bay Rays and Los Angeles Dodgers Breakthrough (2021–2022)
After being released by the Orioles in early August 2021, Phillips signed a minor league deal with the Tampa Bay Rays. He was quickly called up to the majors, and on August 13, 2021, he made his Rays debut, pitching three innings and earning his first career save. His time in Tampa Bay was brief, as he was designated for assignment the following day.
Just three days later, the Los Angeles Dodgers claimed Phillips off waivers, and he made his Dodgers debut on August 19, 2021, earning his first win in a relief appearance against the New York Mets. He appeared in seven games for Los Angeles that year and contributed three scoreless innings in the 2021 National League Championship Series (NLCS) against the Atlanta Braves, striking out six batters.
The 2022 season marked Phillips’ true breakthrough. He appeared in a team-high 64 games for the Dodgers, posting a 7–3 record with a 1.14 ERA and 77 strikeouts. He also delivered 3 and 1/3 scoreless innings during the 2022 National League Division Series (NLDS), cementing his value as a trusted late-inning option.
Los Angeles Dodgers Closer Era (2023–2025)
Phillips became the Dodgers’ primary closer in 2023, recording 24 saves across 62 games with a 2.05 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 61 and 1/3 innings. He added 2 and 1/3 scoreless innings in the 2023 NLDS, reinforcing his reputation as a reliable postseason performer.
Following salary arbitration, Phillips and the Dodgers agreed on a $4 million salary for the 2024 season. He appeared in 61 games, going 5–1 with a 3.43 ERA, 63 strikeouts, and 18 saves. In the postseason, he was outstanding, pitching 6 and 2/3 scoreless innings across the NLDS and NLCS. However, he suffered an arm injury in the final game of the NLCS, which kept him off the 2024 World Series roster.
Recovery from the injury caused Phillips to miss the start of the 2025 season. He returned to pitch seven scoreless appearances for Los Angeles, recording six strikeouts and one save across 5 and 2/3 innings. On May 30, 2025, it was announced that he would miss the remainder of the season due to Tommy John surgery. On November 21, the Dodgers did not tender him a contract for 2026, making him a free agent.
Driving Style and Strengths
Phillips has built his career on a heavy fastball-slider combination, using his high arm slot to generate swings and misses at the top of the strike zone. He has shown the ability to handle both left-handed and right-handed hitters, a key reason the Dodgers entrusted him with late-inning responsibilities. His composure in high-leverage moments has been a defining trait throughout his time in Los Angeles.
Notable Events and Milestones
One of the most memorable moments of Phillips’ career came during the 2021 NLCS, when he struck out six batters across three scoreless innings against the Braves. His 1.14 ERA in 2022 stood as one of the best single-season marks by a Dodgers reliever, and his 24 saves in 2023 marked his first full season as a closer.
Evan Phillips Career Wins and Performances
Throughout his MLB career, Evan Phillips has compiled a strong record as a relief pitcher, earning wins, saves, and postseason honors across multiple organizations. His time with the Dodgers represents the most productive stretch of his career, highlighted by dominant regular-season ERAs and clutch postseason outings.
Los Angeles Dodgers Highlights
Phillips appeared in 64 games for the Dodgers in 2022, going 7–3 with a 1.14 ERA and 77 strikeouts. In 2023, he served as the closer and notched 24 saves in 62 appearances, finishing with a 2.05 ERA. He added 18 saves in 2024 before his season-ending injury. Across three postseason runs with Los Angeles, he delivered multiple scoreless innings in the 2021 NLCS, the 2022 NLDS, the 2023 NLDS, and the 2024 NLDS and NLCS.
Other Performances
Before joining the Dodgers, Phillips made brief major league appearances with the Braves, Orioles, and Rays. His Rays debut on August 13, 2021, produced his first career save, while his Dodgers debut later that month gave him his first win in Los Angeles.
Evan Phillips Family
Family Background and Baseball Lineage
Evan Phillips’ father, Joe, played college baseball at Anne Arundel Community College, giving Evan an early introduction to the game through his family. Growing up in a baseball household helped shape his path toward a professional career.
Personal Life
Phillips is married to his wife, Elizabeth. In April 2023, the couple welcomed their first child, a son.
2025 Season Performance
Evan Phillips’ 2025 season was significantly disrupted by injury. After recovering from an arm injury that ended his 2024 postseason, he worked his way back to the Dodgers bullpen in the early part of the year. Across seven scoreless appearances, he recorded six strikeouts and one save in 5 and 2/3 innings, showing flashes of his previous form.
On May 30, 2025, the Dodgers announced that Phillips would undergo Tommy John surgery, ending his 2025 season. The surgery was a major setback for a pitcher who had been a key part of the team’s bullpen plans heading into the year.
Following the season, the Dodgers declined to tender him a contract for 2026, making him a free agent. As he works through his rehabilitation, Phillips remains a proven late-inning arm with a strong postseason resume, and his next chapter will likely be shaped by his recovery timeline.