Connor Brogdon felt Tuesday afternoon that he was getting his call to the majors when his phone released the call from Josh Bonfifay, the Phillies’ director of player development.
But Brogdon, a 10th-round pick in 2017 that challenged any opportunity to respond to that conflicting call. He played Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, a popular PC game, and could be suspended via the online gaming network if he took a break or tried to leave.
“So I had to turn off a headset and listen,” Brogdon said wednesday.
The Phillies called Brogdon, a 25-year right with a 97 mph straight, to his bullpen, which he entered Wednesday with the EFFECTIVENESS, WHIP and highest batting average in the primary leagues.
Brogdon had 2.61 MPM last season in 51 games between Clearwater, Double A Reading and Triple A Lehigh Valley. He was one of the few relievers the team had kept at their exchange education site in Allentown, knowing that they most likely needed it by 2020. And Brogdon was the first to get the call-up for the big leagues.
I just had to finish the business first.
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“I had to finish as productive as I could,” Brogdon said. “It’s complicated because I’m clearly looking to focus on what Josh says and stay in the game. I’m pretty sure my teammate is pretty mad at me.”
Brogdon grew up in Madera, California, and began his school career near Fresno City College. He moved two years later to Lewis-Clark State, a NAIA school in Idaho, and made 12 starts for his 2017 national championship team.
The Phillies selected Brogdon in June (293rd overall) and awarded him a $5,000 signing bonus. Brogdon tried to make his last in his first off-season.
“After taxes, I think I made about $3,200,” he said. “You can believe it didn’t last too long.”
Brogdon played in two small schools and his signing bonus came without any guarantee that he would succeed in Philadelphia. The Phillies temporarily moved him to the record paddock and his ability to handle that transition set him on his way to the majors. He started last season with Clearwater, but was in le A in June.
He has reduced his arsenal as a reliever and aimed at his change, a draw that results in a position for the primary leagues. Since then, he added a cutter, which Brogdon has called a “cursor cutting hybrid,” to match his fastball and his change. He has 2.85 MPM in 98 minor league games with 11.5 effective strikeouts and 2.3 goals in nine innings. He has become one of the most productive relievers in the agricultural formula thanks to his love of hitting.
It also helped that his fastball velocity spiked to the mid-90s in his relief role after sitting in the low-90s as a college starter.
“I think he came here with the mindset that, as a starter, I have to fight for five, six innings and deepen the game. Then, when I switched to stylo, I’m here for five or six batters. I don’t want to stay awake. I can let him eat, ” said Brogdon.
An hour after talking to Bonifay, Brogdon won a phone call from Jameson Hall, the Phillies’ team coordinator. The team searched for him at Citizens Bank Park in 90 minutes. Brogdon rushed to pack his things at Allentown Baseball Stadium and went to Philadelphia.
It’s “kind of a panic,” he said. One day he started betting, video games have become a whirlwind of thank you to a phone call. And how did this game end?
They took the out of us, Brogdon said of the last video game he played before reaching the primary leagues.
Scott Kingery came out of the line-up Wednesday after earning 0 out of five on Tuesday, while his batting average dropped to Array100 and his PAHO fell to Array263 in 43 plate appearances. Phil Gosselin started at the baseArray moment. The Phillies still don’t know whether Spencer Howard or Vince Velasquez will start Friday’s series opening match against the Mets… Jake Arrieta will face Thursday’s series final against the Right Orioles -hander Thomas Eshelman, who is from the Phillies. Minor League Pitcher of the Year in 2017.
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