BSN Exclusive: Diehl discusses successful second chance in majors

Phillip Diehl’s first trip to Denver was not an auspicious one.

Making his Major League debut against the Chicago Cubs on June 11, the Cincinnati-born left-hander gave up two runs over one inning. The next night, it was an identical pitching line. 

Then he nearly caused a brawl after plunking Anthony Rizzo; Chicago decided to retaliate against Nolan Arenado instead. 

The 25-year-old rookie soon went back to Triple-A Albuquerque to continue his development. However, an 8.41 ERA during 20.1 innings in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League was an equal mix of leaving the ball in the middle of the zone and juiced baseballs that have evaluators unsure if 20 home runs in the highest level of the minors means anything of importance for a player’s projection.

Ultimately, the adjustments made were enough to point Diehl in the right direction and upon his return to the majors on September 6, a lot has changed. 

“I’m just a lot more comfortable,” he shared. “There’s more of an emphasis on executing your pitches every time out.”

While the game of baseball is the same in every country of the world, the individual details before each game look markedly different, even when reviewing typical procedures between college and the professional ranks, not to mention the various levels within the minors.

“In Triple A, the games were at a different time and it’s just getting your body acclimated to the different schedule,” Diehl said of one the alterations players have to make when making the jump to the majors. “You learn what the schedule’s like, and you adapt to what your routine was in Triple A.”

Sounding like a sagacious veteran well beyond his seven innings of Major League experience, Diehl can now dispense with wisdom that’s allowed him much more success this time around.

“You get more comfortable with going out there pitching with the crowd, too. Your stuff plays, you’re here for a reason, and you don’t need to change anything drastically. You don’t have to make the perfect pitch every time. Your good is good enough,” he added.

He’s had seven consecutive scoreless appearances and while the first two in that streak found Diehl not recording an out – he gave up a single and base on balls, respectively – his last five have spanned 5.1 innings with only three hits and no walks to go along with five strikeouts, including an excellent effort during Saturday night’s 3-2 victory over Milwaukee.

“That’s one of the highlights of my life, to this date. Strike out the side in a big league game. Playoff team. Eighth inning. One-run game,” Diehl said with a smile as wide as the Colorado River.

The fans at Coors Field have begun to take notice, too. Thankfully, they’re much kinder than the ones he’s been used to throughout his four years in the minors.

“You get some hecklers in Triple-A, for sure. Like Thirsty Thursdays and stuff like that,” he said of MiLB’s most popular promotion of discounted adult beverages. “I’m used to the hecklers playing college ball, too.”

Nothing was as brutal as his time playing the Double-A affiliate for the New York Yankees – everyone’s favorite team to root against – in the Eastern League as a member of the Trenton Thunder.

“Oh, it’s ruthless. Portland (Boston’s Double-A affiliate)? Every time up there, we would have someone escorted away from the bullpen just because they were taking it too far,” Diehl shared with a deadpan stare. “That’s the rivalry.”

While he may not want to contend with rabid fans haggling him during his day (or, more frequently, night) job, Diehl would trade all of that for a shot against Los Angeles at Dodgers Stadium in late-March to start the 2020 season.

After this second spell in September, he’ll most certainly get that opportunity.