Story by
This Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Has Been a Pleasant Surprise
- Story by
- This Philadelphia Phillies Pitcher Has Been a Pleasant Surprise
As a group, the Philadelphia Phillies ' pitching staff has largely been underwhelming so far to begin the 2026 season. That said, there have been some individual performances that warrant some recognition and praise.
One of those pitchers who has been a pleasant surprise out of the Phillies' bullpen is reliever Chase Shugart .
Advertisement
Sugart is a newcomer to Philadelphia's organization this season, and is the third team he's been a part of after being drafted and making his MLB debut with the Boston Red Sox .
Shugart is certainly making a solid first impression with the Phillies. The right-hander was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in January after the National League Central team designated him for assignment.
Shugart wasn't on Philly's Opening Day roster and wasn't recalled to the big-league roster until April 14. He's been used quite a bit since that promotion.
In Shugart's first nine games with Philadelphia, he's given up one earned run in nine innings, with a 1.11 WHIP. Even though the strikeout rate is slightly above average, 24.3 percent, Shugart is succeeding in a reliever's primary goal: not allowing free base runners. He's only walked two batters up to this point in the season.
Apr 30, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Chase Shugart (55) prepares to pitch during the ninth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Perhaps the Shugart's most impressive quality so far this season is that he's been available when called upon.
Advertisement
That included on Thursday, when the 29-year-old pitched in both the day and nightcap of the Phillies' doubleheader sweep over the San Francisco Giants . He became the first pitcher to have a win in both games of a doubleheader since 2013, and it's the third time it's happened in franchise history.
The Phillies have a handful of relievers currently on the injured list, with Jhoan Duran , Kyle Backhus , and Zach Pop each unavailable. They've needed someone to step up and, at the very least, provide some depth, but Shugart is giving the team more right now.
At some point, that group of pitchers will be healthy, but if Shugart continues to pitch as he is right now, he could be a pleasant surprise turned into a key piece to the bullpen for the rest of the season.
Phillies Roundtable also offers a fan community and message board. We'd love to have you join us to talk all things Phillies. Click the "Join" button at the top of the page to join our community for free.
