Coming off of his first full season on the South Shore, Aaron Phillips returns to the RailCats in 2023. 

The team’s appearance leader last year with 36 (one start), he compiled a 3-3 record, 4.14 earned run average, 51 strikeouts, and 3 saves over 63.0 innings pitched.

Phillips attended St. Bonaventure University where he featured as a pitcher, first baseman, and outfielder during his three years there. While he was a constant fixture in the batting order, he truly shined as a pitcher, as he became a force in the starting rotation. As a junior in 2017, he went 9-2 with a 3.04 earned run average, 90 strikeouts, an 8.0 strikeouts-per-nine innings ratio, and 1.212 WHIP in 100.2 innings that included 14 starts and one relief appearance. Phillips’ performance earned the Atlantic 10 Conference Pitcher of the Year Award and ABCA/Rawlings All-American Third Team selection while he was also named a finalist for the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Award. 

Immediately following that impressive junior season, the San Francisco Giants took Phillips in the 9th round of the 2017 Major League Baseball Draft, making him the highest-ever draft pick in St. Bonaventure history. In his first full season as a pro with the Single-A Augusta GreenJackets, he continued his run of good form, going 6-7 and posting a 3.72 ERA, 120 strikeouts to just 16 walks, and a 1.082 WHIP in 18 starts and one relief outing. Phillips progressed to the Giants Triple-A affiliate, the Sacramento River Cats, just one year later.  

Phillips signed with the RailCats late in 2021, making an immediate impact out of the rotation.  He put together two excellent starts in August and September, allowing just two runs while striking out seven in his 14 innings of work along with an 8.2-inning scoreless streak to begin his American Association career.