Headliners 22 is here, and brings a new 96 overall reliever with an interesting pitch mix.
96 Standout RP Evan Phillips - #7 RP True Overall
Evan Phillips has a mix featuring a primary Sweeper, a hard Cutter at 94 MPH, a 4-Seamer that will touch upper-90's and a Sinker at roughly the same speed. The three fastballs are roughly the same speed, but each breaks on a different plane - though the respective Break on each pitch isn't great. This is critical since they're all coming in around the same speed, and the primary Sweeper sits around 86 MPH.
Phillips has 96 Control and 99 Break on that Sweeper, but the lack of a Changeup or Splitter might hinder the card a bit. Then again, with 122 H/9 and 122 Clutch, you might not need an extravagant slate of pitches. Throwing hard stuff with a sharp Sweeper is how Phillips pays his bills in real life, and can still probably find a spot in lower-leverage opportunities in a bullpen or two.
For most, he'll probably end up being collection fodder in the Standout series.
Cory Wayne Dell
Cory has been writing about all things baseball and gaming since 2022 and has been featured at Operation Sports as well as cited by Forbes. Cory is also a multi-instrumentalist and founder of the band Cargocastle. Cargocastle's latest single, "Truth and Reconciliation," is available on Spotify and all major streaming platforms. Cory is also the author of Shadow of a Monster, a personal memoir currently seeking publication.
