Scouting Report

Scouting grades: Fastball: 60 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 40 | Overall: 40

Phillips popped on scouting radars as a South Dakota prepster, but injuries and inconsistent strikes limited his chances to pitch as a high school senior and Iowa Western CC freshman. After serving Tennessee's 2024 College World Series championship club as a reliever, he thrived as the Volunteers' No. 2 starter last spring. He offered some of the best velocity and physicality among pitchers in the 2025 Draft, prompting the Red Sox to sign him for a below-slot $2.5 million as a supplemental first-round pick.

Phillips' fastball velocity has dropped about 3 mph from college to his pro debut, now parking at 92-95 mph and peaking at 97, and his delivery with a low release height and plenty of extension helps compensate for lackluster shape. His mid-80s slider touches 90 mph and can be devastating with two-plane depth at its best. He can make batters look bad with a low-90s changeup with huge fade, though he doesn't use it very often because it's difficult to harness.

With a 6-foot-4 and 246-pound frame, Phillips is built like Kumar Rocker and features more athleticism than the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 Draft. A former two-way player at Iowa Western, he flashed solid power and speed as an outfielder. He has a less-than-smooth arm action and his control and command have regressed significantly in his first taste of pro ball, which will make his frontline-starter ceiling harder to reach. Scouts believe there's a far greater chance he winds up in the bullpen than they did a year ago.

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Scouts first identified Phillips when he was a South Dakota high schooler, but injuries and inconsistent strikes limited his opportunities to pitch as a senior as well as during his freshman season at Iowa Western CC. He showcased a live if erratic arm as a reliever on Tennessee's 2024 Men's College World Series championship club, then seized the Volunteers' No. 2 starter role this spring. Few college pitchers in this class can match his velocity and physicality, which led the Red Sox to pay him $2.5 million as a supplemental first-round pick.

Phillips can blow hitters away with a fastball that sits at 96-98 mph and touches 100, compensating for lackluster shape with deceptively low release height and plenty of carry and extension. His slider parks in the mid-80s and reaches 90 mph with more depth than sweep. He doesn't use his low-90s changeup very often, but it features so much fade that it creates more chases and empty swings than his heater and slide piece.

At 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, Phillips has a build reminiscent of Kumar Rocker's and is more athletic than the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 Draft. He's a former two-way player who flashed solid power and speed as an outfielder at Iowa Western. He gets down the mound well and has improved his control as a junior, though he doesn't have the smoothest arm action and may never have more than fringy command.

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 50

Scouts first identified Marcus Phillips when he was a South Dakota high schooler, but injuries and inconsistent strikes limited his opportunities to pitch as a senior as well as during his freshman season at Iowa Western CC. He showcased a live, if erratic, arm as a reliever on Tennessee's 2024 Men's College World Series championship club, then seized the Volunteers' No. 2 starter role this spring. Few college pitchers in this class can match his velocity and physicality.

Phillips can blow hitters away with a fastball that sits at 96-98 mph and touches 100, compensating for lackluster shape with deceptively low release height and plenty of carry and extension. His slider parks in the mid-80s and reaches 90 mph with more depth than sweep. He doesn't use his low-90s changeup very often, but it features so much fade that is creates more chases and empty swings than his heater and slide piece.

At 6-foot-4 and 246 pounds, Phillips has a build reminiscent of Kumar Rocker's and is more athletic than the No. 3 overall pick in the 2022 Draft. He's a former two-way player who flashed solid power and speed as an outfielder at Iowa Western. He gets down the mound well and has improved his control as a junior, though he doesn't have the smoothest arm action and may never have more than fringy command.

Transactions

Team	Date	Transaction
	09/08/2026	Greenville Drive activated RHP Marcus Phillips from the 7-day injured list.
	08/20/2026	Greenville Drive placed RHP Marcus Phillips on the 7-day injured list retroactive to August 19, 2026.
	04/01/2026	RHP Marcus Phillips assigned to Greenville Drive from FCL Red Sox.
	03/05/2026	RHP Marcus Phillips assigned to Boston Red Sox Prospects.
	08/11/2025	RHP Marcus Phillips assigned to FCL Red Sox.
	07/20/2025	Boston Red Sox signed RHP Marcus Phillips.
	06/03/2025	RHP Marcus Phillips assigned to College Workout.
	02/21/2025	RHP Marcus Phillips assigned to Tennessee Volunteers.
	05/09/2024	Elizabethton River Riders activated RHP Marcus Phillips.
	05/09/2024	Elizabethton River Riders activated RHP Marcus Phillips.
	02/06/2024	RHP Marcus Phillips assigned to Tennessee Volunteers.