In a noteworthy move that has fans buzzing, the Philadelphia Phillies have decided to bring back reliever Lou Trivino on a minor-league contract, as reported by Ken Rosenthal from The Athletic. This deal not only reinstates Trivino to the Phillies roster but also grants him a chance to participate in major-league Spring Training, which adds an exciting layer to his return.
At 34 years old, Trivino is making his way back to Philadelphia after finishing the 2025 season with the team. He initially joined the Phillies on a minor-league contract in early August and soon earned a call-up at the end of that month. During the final stretch of the season, he made ten appearances, showcasing impressive performance metrics with a stellar 2.00 ERA over nine innings pitched. However, it’s worth noting that his underlying statistics painted a slightly different picture—he carried a xERA of 4.06 and managed just a 25% groundball rate, which raises some eyebrows. Overall, throughout the 2025 season, which he split between the Giants, Dodgers, and Phillies, Trivino posted a 3.97 ERA, although his expected ERA was higher at 5.10, and he maintained a below-average groundball rate of 33.8%.
His return to the mound is particularly significant considering he missed the entirety of the 2023-24 seasons due to injuries. In 2023, he underwent Tommy John surgery, and despite efforts to rehab in 2024, he encountered a shoulder injury that sidelined him further. Before these setbacks, Trivino had established himself as a reliable relief pitcher since debuting with the Oakland Athletics in 2018. Across 284 and two-thirds innings pitched for the A’s and Yankees between 2018 and 2022, he amassed a respectable 3.86 ERA, bolstered by a commendable 24.5% strikeout rate against a walk rate of 10.6%. Known primarily for his fastball, Trivino garnered positive evaluations for both his cutter and four-seamer early in his career, notably achieving a run value of 14 on his cutter during his rookie season.
However, Trivino’s first year back from injury revealed some challenges. His average four-seam velocity dipped to 94.8 MPH in 2025, a decline from his 95.6 MPH in 2022. Similarly, the velocity of his cutter fell to 91.8 MPH, the lowest it's been since 2020, alongside a slight decrease in his sinker speed. Compounding these issues, his strikeout rate plummeted to 17.9%, and his groundball rate fell to a career-worst of 33.8%, especially concerning when compared to his prior average of 47.4% between 2018 and 2022, which included an outstanding 52.6% in 2022.
For the Phillies, this contract comes with minimal risk. Despite Trivino's rusty performance in 2025, he excelled at limiting hard contact, ranking in the 93rd percentile or better for both average exit velocity allowed and hard-hit rates according to Statcast. While these attributes alone won’t guarantee a return to his peak form, they provide a foundation for improvement if he can increase his strikeouts and groundballs moving forward. Presently, the Phillies' bullpen is led by notable names such as Jhoan Duran, José Alvarado, and Brad Keller. Should Trivino perform well during Spring Training, he could find himself competing for a middle-relief position alongside fellow pitchers Tanner Banks, Jonathan Bowlan, and Orion Kerkering.
