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McGarry was struggling to the point that he had to be put on the developmental list in 2023. In 2024, he shifted into the bullpen and was still walking a batter per inning. In the Arizona Fall League, he was 92-95 with a good slider and looked like a potential up/down reliever on the days he threw strikes.
McGarry has shown off premium stuff since his Virginia days, but command has always held him back. His fastball sits 94 mph and touches the upper 90s with excellent extension, and his slider elicited a 52 percent miss rate, according to Synergy, in 2025. The Phillies moved him back into a starting role this year so he could keep working on all his stuff, and he took a step forward command-wise with a career-low walk rate ... that was still 5.3 per nine.
I have to wonder how much debate there was about McGarry among the Phillies front office folks. McGarry has gone from a strong pitching prospect with the Phillies to a guy who they demoted from Triple-A to Double-A because of his struggles. Fact is that he has always struggled at the Triple-A level, which led to his demotions. After going from a starter to a reliever, the Phillies put him back in the starting rotation at Double-A Reading in 2025. McGarry blossomed, but the Phillies brought him to Lehigh Valley for just one start at the end of the season. He pitched well in that start – five innings of one-hit, one-run ball with eight strikeouts – but the Phillies were not impressed enough to put him on the 40-man roster even though they have plenty of spots
Nats pick 3rd. Draft to start now ...1st pick by the rockies - RJ petit from the tigers2d - jedickson Paez from WooSox to the white soxNats - Griff McGarry RHP Phillies
Oh good, a reliever who cant throw strikes
The AAA phase pitcher picks all had high K% with too many BBs. Seems like a profile we want to work with
