Phillies Acquire Former First-Round Pick From Rockies

 

The Colorado Rockies and Philadelphia Phillies have swung a trade as we approach the start of the season, as the Phils get themselves some starting depth in the form of former first-rounder T.J. Zeuch. 

Zeuch wasn't on the Rockies' 40-man roster, and had himself a rough spring, pitching to a 7.88 ERA in eight innings of work. 

The 6'7" righty was a first-round pick of the Toronto Blue Jays in the 2016 June Draft (21st overall), and had cups of coffee with the Jays for three seasons, from 2019 through 2021, getting into 13 games in total, with mixed results. He had a 4.59 ERA with an ugly 36:31 strikeout-to-walk ratio. 

With the Cincinnati Reds last season, the 27-year-old had even more trouble, surrendering an outrageous 24 hits in just 10.2 innings pitched, with a 15.19 ERA. 

Zeuch will start in the minors for the Phils to try to get his act together. But Philly has had a number of pitching injuries crop up this spring, including Ranger Suarez set to start the season on the IL, and top prospect Andrew Painter going down with a UCL sprain.  

Zeuch had some decent numbers coming up through the minors for Toronto, with ERAs in the mid-3.00s, and hopefully for the Phils he'll get a chance to rediscover that at Triple-A, and perhaps serve as a depth piece for them. 

Photo: Antranik Tavitian/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK