Connor Brogdon on struggles: ‘It’s been a constant journey’

Connor Brogdon was the Phillies’ best pitcher in the 2022 postseason when it mattered most.

He kept the NLCS Game 4 bullpen game against the Padres from going off the rails by throwing 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Brogdon’s five strikeouts in two innings in Game 5 of the World Series would have been remembered forever in Philadelphia if the Phillies won it all.

Breaking down the best bullpen performances from Game 4 of the NLCS

So much has gone wrong since then. He got off to a slow start last year, was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in June and spent the remainder of the year battling poor mechanics. He began the season on the major league roster because he is out of minor league options.

He’s made progress, but he may be running out of time to figure it out in the Phillies organization.

“Every day, I feel like I’m right there,” Brogdon said. “I felt like I was right there. Today, I was talking to (assistant pitching coach) Brian Kaplan. I thought I’ve simplified it. I’ve got it down. Then tonight happens.”

Brogdon was thrusted into a 2-2 game in extras against the Reds on Monday night. Rob Thomson had already used his four higher leverage relievers, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, Yunior Marte and José Alvarado, to keep the game tied. Thomson wanted to avoid using the last remaining reliever, Nick Nelson, after he went more than a week without pitching. Gregory Soto and Seranthony Domínguez were unavailable after throwing two days in a row.

So, it was up to Brogdon to give the Phillies another chance to win it in the bottom of the 10th.

He began the inning with two consecutive free passes to Will Benson and Jonathan India to load the bases.

He was hearing it on the mound after seven straight balls. “Throw a strike!” the home crowd yelled. He got one over, then threw a 92 mph fastball over the plate to Spencer Steer for a grand slam.

With the game out of reach and the bullpen down to one available arm, Brogdon had to wear it. He struck out the next two batters and walked another before Thomson pulled him for Nelson.

This could have been avoided. The Phillies scored two runs in the first and nothing else over the next eight innings. Bryce Harper, who is hitless to begin the season, had two runners on with nobody out in the bottom of the eighth and lined out. Bryson Stott and Johan Rojas took off early for the next bag in back-to-back innings and were caught stealing.

But when a reliever implodes late in the game the way Brogdon did, the blame falls on him.

“I’m out there thinking about every step of my delivery at times,” Brogdon said. “Not every pitch, but there are pitches where I’m thinking of every single step of my delivery.”

A potential rainout on Tuesday could reset the bullpen and buy Brogdon more time. Orion Kerkering is working his way back from an extended illness that interrupted his spring training. He will likely take Brogdon’s spot on the roster when he’s ready, which could be as early as next week.

In a way, Brogdon’s fate on the Phillies’ roster has already been decided, whether the Phillies make a roster move on Tuesday or not. He won’t be getting the standing ovation that turns his season around.

If he clears waivers once the Phillies eventually bump him off the major league roster, something could click in the minors and the Phillies could bring him back. Or another team could take a chance on him and he could have success in a different uniform.

There will be other chances. It’s hard to envision the league collectively giving up on a pitcher who once looked as good as Brogdon did on the biggest stage just two years.

“It kind of feels like a long time ago, at this point,” Brogdon said.

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