The Philadelphia Phillies have added another arm to their pitching depth by signing former New York Yankees prospect Drake Fellows to a minor league contract ahead of their upcoming weekend series against the Cleveland Guardians.
Philadelphia enters the series looking to rebound after dropping two of three games at home to the Cincinnati Reds. Despite the recent setback, the Phillies have been playing improved baseball lately and are hoping fresh additions like Fellows can strengthen their organizational depth as the season progresses.
Fellows, a right-handed pitcher, was officially assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after signing with the organization. The move was first reported through the IronPigs’ roster updates, with reports noting that the 28-year-old would immediately join the Triple-A rotation and take the mound against the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders.
The veteran minor league pitcher spent the offseason in the Yankees organization before becoming available. Originally selected by the San Diego Padres in the sixth round of the 2019 MLB Draft out of Vanderbilt University, Fellows built a strong reputation during his collegiate career, including helping Vanderbilt compete on college baseball’s biggest stage during the College World Series.
Although he has yet to make his Major League Baseball debut, Fellows has accumulated valuable experience in the minors. During the 2025 season, he posted a 9-6 record with a 4.41 ERA across 33 Triple-A appearances, including 19 starts. His versatility as both a starter and rotational depth piece likely made him an attractive option for Philadelphia.
The Phillies appear eager to evaluate whether Fellows can emerge as a potential call-up option later this season. If he performs well with Lehigh Valley, there is a realistic path for him to earn an opportunity at the MLB level, especially as teams often rely heavily on pitching depth throughout the long season.
Philadelphia currently sits second in the National League East with a 25-25 record through 50 games. The club has shown signs of improvement recently, winning seven of its last 10 contests, though consistency at home has remained an issue with a 13-14 record at Citizens Bank Park.
Following their series against Cleveland, the Phillies will head west for a road matchup against the San Diego Padres beginning Monday night. The organization is hoping to maintain momentum and stay firmly in the playoff race as the summer stretch approaches.
Despite an uneven start to the 2026 campaign, expectations remain high in Philadelphia. The franchise has reached the postseason in each of the past four seasons and made a memorable run to the World Series in 2022 behind stars like Bryce Harper.
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