Scouting Report

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

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 parks at 96-98 mph and peaks at 100 coming out of a delivery with a low release height and plenty of extension, though it's not as overpowering as it should be due to lackluster shape. His mid-80s slider touches 90 mph and can be devastating with two-plane depth at its best. He'll 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. If Boston can help him tweak his fastball and improve the consistency of his secondaries, he could have frontline starter stuff.

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 gets down the mound well and continues to throw more strikes as he gains experience, though his less-than-smooth arm action may mean that he never has better than fringy command. 

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
	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.