The Boston Red Sox made a significant move in the 2025 MLB Draft by selecting Marcus Phillips, a right-handed pitcher from the University of Tennessee, with the 33rd overall pick. This selection follows the team’s choice of Kyson Witherspoon, a hard-throwing right-hander from Oklahoma, as their first-round pick at No. 15.
Phillips, who is 21 years old, was acquired from the Milwaukee Brewers as part of the deal involving right-handed pitcher Quinn Priester earlier in the season. In his college career, Phillips demonstrated impressive skill on the mound, achieving a 3.90 ERA and striking out 98 batters across 17 starts and 83 innings this past season. Initially starting at Iowa Western Community College, he transferred to Tennessee in 2024, where he contributed to the team’s College World Series victory as a reliever before establishing himself as a starter.
Impressively, Phillips has a fastball that regularly reaches up to 100 mph. He comes from a sports-oriented family; his father, Steve Phillips, was a college athlete and played five years in the minor leagues.
Since taking over as Boston’s chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow has focused heavily on acquiring pitching talent, as evidenced by the fact that 16 out of 22 draft picks during his tenure have been pitchers. This trend indicates a clear strategy to strengthen the Red Sox pitching lineup for the future.
Scouts have noted that while Phillips has faced challenges such as injuries and inconsistencies earlier in his career, he possesses a unique combination of velocity and physicality that few college pitchers can match. With a build reminiscent of Kumar Rocker, Phillips’ strong performance and athleticism could provide the Red Sox with a valuable asset in their pitching rotation.
This draft selection reflects the organization’s commitment to developing talented pitchers, which could bode well for their competitive future in Major League Baseball. Fans can remain hopeful as the Red Sox continue to invest in potential stars on the mound.