Despite their recent offensive surge, the Philadelphia Phillies still prioritize pitching above all else. The backbone of their rotation features three standout arms: Cristopher Sánchez, Zack Wheeler, and to a slightly lesser extent Jesús Luzardo.
However, the bottom of the rotation has been disastrous. Veteran Aaron Nola looks past his prime, and former top prospect Andrew Painter has contributed little this season. The team’s farm system lacks depth, but there’s hope that ex-Milwaukee Brewer Bryse Wilson can provide help at the major league level.
Wilson quickly rose through the Atlanta Braves’ system after being selected in the fourth round of the 2016 MLB Draft, making his big league debut in 2018 at just 20 years old. Still, the North Carolina native struggled to a 5.90 ERA over parts of four seasons with Atlanta, and was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates for reliever Richard Rodríguez midway through the Braves’ 2021 World Series championship run.
Things didn’t improve in Pittsburgh, where Wilson posted a poor 5.37 ERA across 156 innings. The Pirates moved on from the once-promising prospect before the 2023 season, allowing the Brewers to acquire him for just cash.
Milwaukee is where Wilson’s fortunes finally turned around, as he delivered an impressive 2.58 ERA in 53 relief appearances in 2023. He regressed slightly the next season but still managed a respectable 4.04 ERA over 104 ⅔ innings as a swingman. Unfortunately for Wilson, that wasn’t enough to secure a roster spot with the Brewers in 2025, and they declined to offer him a contract. The Chicago White Sox then picked up the powerful right-hander for just over $1 million ahead of the 2025 campaign, but Wilson struggled badly, posting a 6.65 ERA in 47 ⅓ innings.
Given the inconsistent nature of his MLB career, it came as no surprise that Wilson didn’t receive a major league offer last winter. Instead, the Phillies signed him to a minor league deal and placed him in the Triple-A rotation as a low-cost depth piece. He endured a terrible 9.67 ERA in April with the IronPigs, but has recently found his rhythm. In his latest start, he tossed four scoreless innings, allowing only one hit and striking out five.
Can Bryse Wilson help solve the Phillies’ rotation woes?
Wilson exercised an opt-out clause in his contract last week in hopes of finding a better opportunity elsewhere, but after no suitable offers emerged, he re-signed with the Phillies on another minor league deal. That’s fortunate for Philadelphia, given that the poor performances of Nola and Painter might force the team to give someone else a shot at starting. The IronPigs lack proven alternatives, with journeymen Alan Rangel, Tucker Davison, and Connor Gillispie rounding out the rotation behind Wilson.
Realistically, if the Phillies want to meaningfully upgrade their rotation, they’ll likely need to do so via the trade deadline. However, if they prefer to use their limited prospect capital on a right-handed bat or a high-leverage reliever, Wilson could be the next man up if starting opportunities arise. He could also provide valuable long relief out of the bullpen, which becomes increasingly important later in the season. It’s far from a comforting solution, but if Wilson can recapture his Brewers-era form, it just might work.
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