Underrated prospect might have been Phils' best Deadline acquisition

BRADENTON, Fla. -- Though the Phillies shied away from making a massive blockbuster deal at last year's Trade Deadline, they did make a flurry of moves that resulted in an influx of newcomers.

Relievers Carlos Estévez and Tanner Banks joined the big league bullpen, Austin Hays was added to the outfield and right-hander Seth Johnson immediately slotted in as one of the club's top prospects -- and later made his MLB debut for the Phils on Sept. 8.

So, it's understandable if the addition of right-hander Moisés Chace may have gotten lost in the shuffle.

But a little more than seven months removed from the Deadline, Chace may be shaping up to be the most interesting name of the bunch -- and only time will tell if he'll end up being the most impactful.

The 21-year-old tossed a hitless inning in his spring debut in Friday afternoon's 3-2 loss to the Pirates at LECOM Park. After Liover Peguero reached on an error to start the seventh, Chace induced a double play and a popout to finish the frame on just 10 pitches.

Though Chace’s fastball topped out at 93.9 mph in Friday's quick frame, it typically sits in the mid-90s and reached 98 mph last year. That electric pitch is a big reason why Chace now checks in as the Phillies’ No. 5 prospect -- and their best pitching prospect not named Andrew Painter.

• Catch Chace and other Phils prospects in Spring Breakout

“The velocity isn’t where it’s going to be -- he’s still building,” manager Rob Thomson said. “But the fastball has a lot of ride to it. … It’s so tough to see for the hitters and tough to get on top. Once he gains a couple more miles on that velo, it’s going to be really good.”

Acquired alongside Johnson from the O's in the Gregory Soto trade, Chace was considered much more of an unfinished product at the time -- but the Phillies were well aware of his potential. His final start in the Orioles' organization came in Jersey Shore, where he struck out seven batters in just three innings against the BlueClaws (Philadelphia’s High-A affiliate) on July 27.

It caught the Phillies' attention enough that Chace's next start came in a Jersey Shore uniform.

"Great arm, great arm -- a developing pitcher," president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said at the time. "We just saw him pitch a couple days ago against our Jersey Shore club, and he threw the ball really well. ... A really good arm with starter potential."

Chace was used in a piggyback situation in his time with the O's. Sometimes he started and others he came on in relief -- but he never pitched more than four innings in his 17 appearances (nine starts) with High-A Aberdeen.

The Phillies plugged Chace directly into Jersey Shore's rotation, and he pitched a season-high five innings in his second -- and final -- start with the BlueClaws. Chace was then promoted to Double-A Reading, where he had 35 strikeouts in 19 2/3 innings over four starts for the Fightin Phils.

Chace will stretch out as a starter as the spring goes on and will find himself in a rotation -- whether that’s with Jersey Shore, Reading or Triple-A Lehigh Valley -- to begin the season.

The consistent role should help Chace get into more of a rhythm.

“I’ve been a starter for my whole career,” Chace said via a team interpreter. “I was doing some piggybacking with the Orioles, so it was back and forth from starting games and then doing the piggyback -- but I’ve been a starter my whole career.”

That included an Aug. 31 gem in which Chace had 13 strikeouts over six scoreless innings against Somerset. He allowed just one hit and did not walk a batter.

The last part is likely to be the key in his progression.

Like many electric young pitchers, Chace has struggled at times with his command. He averaged 6.3 walks per nine innings with Single-A Delmarva in 2022. That jumped to 7.0 walks per nine in '23. To put that number in perspective, only one qualified pitcher in Phillies history has averaged even 6.0 walks per nine in a single season (Jose DeJesus, 6.3 in 1991).

But prior to last year's trade, Chace had trimmed that number to 5.2 walks per nine in his time with Aberdeen. He cut it to 3.2 in his six Minor League starts following the trade.

The Phillies are confident the velocity will improve throughout the spring. If the command comes with it, Chace could develop into the steal of last year’s Trade Deadline.

“It’s just a matter of keep working,” Chace said. “Going to the gym, getting in the weight room and working on my mechanics in my bullpen sessions. I think that’s it.”