The Phillies’ future long man in the bullpen might be starting games in the Lehigh Valley.
Michael Mercado, a 25-year-old right-hander, has quickly emerged as someone to watch in his first season in the Philadelphia organization. Acquired in an offseason trade from Tampa Bay, he’s enjoying a tremendous start to the year in Triple-A.
Mercado has served in a hybrid role for the IronPigs and excelled at it. He started the year with four scoreless relief appearances, then was inserted into the rotation and delivered brief scoreless starts. His streak snapped on Thursday as he walked five and allowed a run, but he limited the damage to allow just the one runner to cross home in 2 2/3 innings.
The right-hander is interesting. He’s tossed as many as 3 2/3 innings in his longest outing. He has a 0.57 ERA in 15 2/3 innings over seven outings. And Mercado is setting up nicely to possibly earn a chance to take down innings in bulk for the Phillies at some point.
“They said they want me to be kind of a bulk-inning reliever,” Mercado said of the Phillies before the start of the season, “kind of a swing man. Someone who can come in and eat innings. … I’m really comfortable with anything. I’ve done one inning, I’ve done starting, so really whatever’s needed.”
Philadelphia doesn’t currently have a designated long man in its bullpen, instead carrying both Spencer Turnbull and Taijuan Walker as starters for the moment. Once the team makes a decision and moves forward with five starters, some shuffling will have to take place.
Mercado, a member of the 40-man roster, might just be an option depending how it all shakes out. Right-hander Dylan Covey, who picked up those extended spots in relief for the Phillies last year, has been on the injured list all year. Reliever Seranthony Domínguez has struggled in the big leagues, but he’d need to approve any demotion to the minors. The team will have options. Still, injuries always happen, and innings are always needed. Mercado could certainly come into play.
His plus fastball and stamina cut him out for that multi-inning role, making Mercado a real contender to contribute for Philadelphia at some point soon.
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