Phillies' call-up has career day weeks after believing MLB career was over
Drew Ellis was mulling a go in independent baseball only a few weeks ago, feeling his major league opportunities had dried up. However, called up by the Philadelphia Phillies this week, Ellis had a career day at the plate Sunday, pacing an 11-3 win over the Washington Nationals.
Entering the Phillies' afternoon tilt in D.C., Ellis had connected on only one home run in 92 career at-bats. On Sunday, he doubled that total and then some, smashing two long balls while finishing 3-for-3 with three RBI, three runs scored and two walks.
A former second-round pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Ellis made his big-league debut in 2021, playing 28 games during his rookie season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. Waived in 2022, Ellis caught on with the Seattle Mariners briefly before signing with the Phillies as a free agent in April.
Without a job roughly two months ago, Ellis wondered if his MLB dreams were over, telling his agent, "Is this it?" per Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia. Ellis said he was "super grateful" for the opportunity in Philly, and he's taking full advantage so far.
Since his promotion to the Phillies, Ellis is batting .400 with a 1.571 OPS in four games. In 21 games for Philadelphia's minor league affiliates Double-A Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley, Ellis slashed .269/.380/.628 with eight home runs and 27 RBI.
Ellis' big day gave the Phillies a desperately needed lift, as the defending National League Champions are off to a slow start in 2023. Despite winning two straight, the Phils are 27-32, only two games better than the last-place Nationals (25-34) in the NL East.
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