2025 Chachi #24 Joe Ross

Bats:  Right  Throws:  Right  Height:  6'4"  Weight:  243
Opening Day 2025 Age:  31

Born:  May 21, 1993, Berkeley, CA
Acquired:  Signed as a free agent with the Phillies, December 23, 2024

Departed:  Released, August 26, 2025
Major League Teams:  Washington Nationals 2015-19, 2021; Milwaukee Brewers 2024; Philadelphia Phillies 2025

Postseason Appearances:  Washington Nationals 2016, 2019; Milwaukee Brewers 2024

2025 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards

Joe Ross' tenure with the Phillies was not as disastrous as Jordan Romano's, but the reliever was given his release on August 26th, ending a disappointing season.  Ross was 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA in 37 games and 51 innings pitched with the Phillies.  Ross had been prone to one bad big inning in many of his outings, allowing multiple runs in eight of his relief appearances.  He was signed by the Cubs on September 1st, pitching in five games for the their Triple-A team in Iowa.  As of this writing in late December, Ross is still a free agent.

Other Notable Baseball Cards
First Mainstream Card:  2012 Bowman Prospects #BP107
Topps Flagship Set Appearances (7):  2016-20, 2022, 2024
Favorite 2025 Card:  2025 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards
Total Cards in My Phillies Collection:  1 as of 12/30/25, 1 added in 2025

TCDB Stats:  539 total as of 12/30/25, my 7 cards overall are ranked 223rd, 1st is woods75 with 29

Complete Chachi Checklist

2025 Chachi #24

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

2025 Chachi #23 Jordan Romano 

/ 

2025 Chachi #25 Jose Ruiz

Game 131 - Sanchez, Bullpen Implode in Loss to Mets

Philadelphia Phillies	3
New York Mets	13

2025 Philadelphia Phillies Photocards

Monday Night, August 25th

Citi Field - Flushing, NY
76-55, 1st Place, 6 games ahead of the Mets

One Sentence Summary:  Cristopher Sanchez had an uncharacteristically bad outing, with Jordan Romano and Joe Ross adding fuel to the flames in this 13-3 drubbing by the Mets.

What It Means:  Certainly not a great way to start a somewhat important series.

What Happened:  Sanchez was tagged for six runs (five earned) in 5 1/3 innings, walking three and striking out four.  Between the two of them, Romano and Ross, the two big offseason bullpen acquisitions, allowed seven runs on five hits and a pair of walks in two innings.  

Romano gave up a back-breaking three-run home run to Luis Torrens in the eighth.  His ERA of 8.23 is one of the historically worst ERAs of all Phillies relievers in franchise history.  Only Reggie Grabowski, with a 9.23 ERA in 1934, and Bill Hubbell, with a 8.35 ERA in 1923, are ahead of Romano on that "leader" board.

The Phillies actually held a 3-0 lead in this game early, as Trea Turner led off with a triple and scored on a Kyle Schwarber ground out in the first.  In the third, Alec Bohm added a two-run single.

Featured Card:  As it turns out, this was the last game Ross would pitch with the Phillies, as he was released following the game.  In 37 games with the Phillies, which included one "opener" start, Ross was 2-1 with a 5.12 ERA in 51 innings pitched.  He's not been nearly as bad as Romano, who is somehow still on the 40-man roster, albeit on the injured list.  Ross may not ever receive a mainstream Phillies baseball card, unless he makes it to the Topps Update checklist, but here's his team-issued photo card inserted into grab bags of signed memorabilia.  I'd have to think the Phillies have some extras of these cards sitting around in a closet somewhere.

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

Game 12 - Phils Drop Rainy, Lengthy Finale in Atlanta

Philadelphia Phillies	2
Atlanta Braves	4

11 Innings

2016 Topps #132

Thursday Night, April 10th

Truist Park - Atlanta, GA
8-4, Tied for 1st Place, 2 games ahead of the Marlins

One Sentence Summary:  An alarming lack of offense, a steady rain and a bomb of a two-run home from Marcell Ozuna off Joe Ross sent the Phillies to a 4-2 defeat.

What It Means:  After losing two of three in Atlanta, the Phillies next head to St. Louis for a weekend series.

What Happened:  The Phillies scored single runs in the third and 11th innings.  Kyle Schwarber hit his sixth home run of the year in the third, tying the game at 1-1.  Jesus Luzardo turned in another strong performance, allowing a run on six hits while striking out six in his six innings of work.  A nearly three-hour rain delay interrupted the game before the seventh inning.  When the game resumed, Carlos Hernandez, Jordan Romano, Matt Strahm and Tanner Banks threw four scoreless innings in relief.

In the top of the 11th, Johan Rojas walked with the bases loaded to score Nick Castellanos with the go-ahead run.  But Ross couldn't retire the Braves int he bottom of the 11th, giving up a lead-off double to Austin Riley to score zombie runner Ozzie Albies.  Ozuna launched an 0-1 slider 413 feet for the game-winning blast, ending the game at close to 1am.

Featured Card:  Ross is in his eighth big league season, and he came up with the Nationals in 2015.  He missed all of 2020 due to the pandemic and the 2022 season as a result of injury.  Ross appeared in each Topps flagship set between 2016 and 2020.

2025 Virtual Phillies Wall / 2025 Season Summary Index / 2025 Chachi Set Checklist

2024-25 Offseason - Merry Christmas!

2024 Topps Chrome Update #USC32

2024 Topps #101

2024 Topps #445

2024 Choice Jersey Shore BlueClaws #8

I'm already doing a better job keeping this blog active throughout the offseason, as the last few years it sat mostly dormant between November and February.  As we get ready to celebrate Christmas and enjoy a much-needed winter break, here's a look at the Phillies news from the past month.

Hays Non-Tendered:  On November 22nd, the Phillies non-tendered Austin Hays (of) making the short-timer a free agent.  Hays suffered through injury and illness in his time with the Phillies, appearing in just 22 games and batting .256 with a pair of home runs.  He was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts in the NLDS.  Hays' first (and only?) Phillies baseball card can be found in the 2024 Topps Chrome Update set.

Romano Added to Bullpen:  On December 9th, the Phillies added All-Star reliever Jordan Romano (rhp) to their bullpen, signing him to a one-year deal for $8.5 million.  An All-Star with the Blue Jays in 2022 and 2023, Romano appeared in only 15 games last season following an elbow injury.  He had saved 36 games each of the two seasons before that.

Rule 5 Results:  The Phillies selected Mike Vasil (rhp) in the annual rule 5 draft and then almost immediately traded him to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash.  In the minor league portion of the draft, the Phillies lost Eiberson Castellano (rhp), the franchise's most recent Paul Owens Award winner for minor league pitcher of the year, to the Twins.  Castellano had pitched as high as Double-A Reading in 2024.

Phils Add Kepler:  Seeking a corner outfield upgrade for 2025, the Phillies signed Max Kepler (off) to a one-year deal on December 20th.  Besides having one of the cooler cards in the 2024 Topps set, Kepler batted .253 last season with eight home runs and 42 RBIs.  He had played in 10 seasons with the Twins, enjoying a career year in 2019 when he connected for career highs in home runs (36) and RBIs (90).  Kepler is expecting to receive significant playing time in left field.

Luzardo Added to the Rotation:  Just when we thought the Phillies were done making major moves for the year, they announced a big trade with the Marlins the Sunday before Christmas.  Jesus Luzardo (lhp) and Paul McIntosh (c-of) were acquired from Miami for minor league prospects Starlyn Caba (ss) and Emaarion Boyd (of).  Luzardo joins a stacked rotation with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suarez and Cristopher Sanchez, with Andrew Painter a possibility to join the rotation at some point over the summer.  Luzardo is under team control through the 2026 season.  Caba and Boyd had been ranked as the fourth and 23rd top prospects in the Phillies' system by MLB.com.  Tyler Gilbert (lhp) was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster for Luzardo.

Ross Joins Bullpen:  And one more amendment . . . On December 23rd, the Phillies signed free agent Joe Ross (rhp), who spent last season with the Brewers.  Before that, Ross pitched in six seasons with the Nationals.  Ross can relieve and start, but given the already crowded starting pitching rotation, I'm assuming he'll be yet another bullpen piece.  To make room on the 40-man roster for Ross, Jose Cuas (rhp) was designated for assignment.  Cuas had been claimed off waivers from the Blue Jays in early September.

2024 Topps #123

2024 Choice Pensacola Blue Wahoos #17

2023 Bowman Chrome Prospects #BCP-164

2024 Topps Pro Debut #PD-2

2024 Topps Update #US135

There have also been a flurry of minor league signings by the Phillies, but I'll wait until they issue an official list of spring training non-roster invitees before writing further about any of those new players.

Merry Christmas everyone, and here's to a healthy, happy and safe 2025.  We've got this.