David Phelps, a right-handed pitcher, began his Major League Baseball career with the New York Yankees. Drafted by the Yankees in the 14th round of the 2008 MLB Draft, Phelps made his MLB debut on April 8, 2012. During his time with the Yankees, he served both as a starter and a reliever, showcasing his adaptability on the mound. In his rookie season, Phelps appeared in 33 games, starting 11 of them, and posted a 3.34 ERA, which was a promising start to his career.
In 2014, Phelps continued to split his time between the bullpen and the starting rotation. He pitched in 32 games, starting 17, and maintained a 4.38 ERA. His ability to fill multiple roles made him a valuable asset to the Yankees' pitching staff. However, after the 2014 season, Phelps was traded to the Miami Marlins along with infielder Martín Prado in exchange for Nathan Eovaldi, Garrett Jones, and Domingo Germán.
With the Marlins, Phelps transitioned more into a bullpen role. In 2015, he appeared in 23 games, starting 19, and recorded a 4.50 ERA. The following year, he found greater success as a reliever, pitching in 64 games with a 2.28 ERA and 114 strikeouts over 86.2 innings. This performance solidified his role as a reliable bullpen arm.
Phelps continued to pitch effectively for the Marlins in 2017, but in July, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. His stint with the Mariners was cut short due to an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery, causing him to miss the entire 2018 season.
In 2019, Phelps signed with the Toronto Blue Jays as he worked his way back from surgery. He made 17 appearances for the Blue Jays, posting a 3.63 ERA before being traded to the Chicago Cubs in July. With the Cubs, he pitched in 24 games and recorded a 3.18 ERA, demonstrating his ability to bounce back from injury.
The 2020 season saw Phelps sign with the Milwaukee Brewers. In a shortened season due to the COVID-19 pandemic, he pitched in 12 games with a 2.77 ERA before being traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. His time with the Phillies was less successful, as he struggled with a 12.91 ERA in 10 appearances.
In 2021, Phelps returned to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he pitched in 11 games with a 0.87 ERA before suffering a lat injury that ended his season prematurely.
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