Once a highly regarded Philadelphia Phillies prospect, is entering the 2025 season with much to prove after a significant drop in his ranking. The Phillies selected McGarry in the fifth round of the 2021 MLB Draft, taking him with the 145th overall pick. At the start of his professional career, he quickly gained attention, climbing to No. 3 in the Phillies’ 2023 MLB Pipeline prospect rankings. However, his standing took a sharp decline in 2024, dropping to No. 11, and this year, he barely made the list, coming in at No. 30—the biggest drop of any player in the system.
Now 25 years old, McGarry showed promise early in his minor league career. In his first season in 2021, he posted an impressive 2.96 ERA over 24 1/3 innings. His performance remained solid in 2022, finishing with a 3.71 ERA across 27 appearances and 87 1/3 innings. However, things unraveled in 2023, when he struggled as a starting pitcher, recording a disappointing 6.00 ERA over 17 starts. Across 60 innings, he surrendered 44 runs, raising concerns about his long-term potential.
In an effort to salvage his career, the Phillies transitioned McGarry to a bullpen role last season. Unfortunately, the move did not yield the results they had hoped for. He made 30 relief appearances but still struggled to find consistency, finishing with a 4.55 ERA. Over 31 2/3 innings, he gave up 17 earned runs, and perhaps most troubling was his continued inability to control his pitches. His struggles with command were evident, issuing 36 walks, contributing to a concerning career walk rate of 6.8 BB/9.
Despite his challenges, the Phillies have continued to provide McGarry with opportunities, but his recent struggles suggest his time to prove himself is running out. With his ranking barely keeping him in the organization’s top prospect list, 2025 will be a crucial year for him to turn things around. If he fails to regain his early-career form and address his control issues, his future with the Phillies—and in professional baseball—could be in jeopardy.
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