Phillies’ Rule 5 pick faces ‘unique situation’ as team nears final roster decisions
CLEARWATER, Fla. — Zach McCambley worked out with the Phillies pitchers on Saturday morning, playing catch with the group in the outfield of one of the diamonds at the Carpenter Complex. He’s been part of the big-league team all spring, wearing red training apparel and white pinstriped pants along with his tan Rawlings glove.
But in just a few days, McCambley could end up trading in his Phillies gear and heading back to the Miami Marlins system. As a selection in Major League Baseball’s Rule 5 draft this winter, the right-hander has to remain on Philadelphia’s big-league roster for the entire season. If not, the Phillies must offer him back to the Marlins, his original team.
Like a number of players in camp, McCambley is battling for a spot on the roster when the Phillies return home for Opening Day on Thursday at Citizens Bank Park. But most of the guys who don’t make the club will head to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. McCambley would likely have to leave the organization altogether. It’s an intriguing position to be in with spring training ending on Monday.
“I try not to put too much thought into it,” McCambley told Phillies Nation on Friday. “Obviously, I am in a unique situation where if I don’t make the team here, I do get offered back. But again, that’s not up to me. All I can do is control what I can control. So that’s kind of been my mindset this whole camp.”
McCambley, 26, was drafted by Miami in the third round in 2020. He reached Triple-A last year and had a 2.90 ERA in 47 total minor-league games in 2025. The Phillies made McCambley their Rule 5 pick back in December because they believed he could potentially get right-handed hitters out at a high clip and compete for a final bullpen job.
He’s prevented runs so far this spring, with a 1.23 ERA in eight outings. But he hasn’t thrown strikes consistently. McCambley has walked six batters and hit another. He felt like he’s done “an OK job” in camp. He thought he walked some batters on competitive or close pitches. Has it been enough to earn a gig in the big leagues?
“I don’t really worry too much about that,” McCambley said, “because the chips are going to lie wherever they lie after I get done. I’ve enjoyed myself here. I’ve had some good outings, maybe had some outings where I struggled a little bit, but that’s baseball, right?”
The 6-foot-2 McCambley has made a concerted effort to block out the uncertainty. It’s hard enough to battle for a place in the majors for the first time. Focusing on the Rule 5 implications could cause a thought spiral.
For now, McCambley is just taking in Phillies camp. He grew up in the Pocono Mountains, so he’s welcomed joining a team from Pennsylvania. He’s sandwiched in between Tim Mayza and Brad Keller, two relievers with big-league experience with multiple clubs, at his locker, and he’s surrounded by All-Stars in the clubhouse.
“The locker room speaks for itself,” McCambley said. “You got a lot of guys in here that have a lot of years of show time. It’s easy to learn from them and watch their daily habits. It’s been great. I’m super grateful for the opportunity here, regardless of what happens. And I’ve really enjoyed my time here, seeing some legends walking around here as well.”
McCambley may be on the outside looking in when it comes to the Opening Day roster. Right-hander Jonathan Bowlan seems like a lock. Left-hander Kyle Backhus is probably close to one. That leaves one last bullpen spot if Orion Kerkering (hamstring) is healthy enough to start the regular season on time, and two spots if Kerkering needs a stint on the injured list.
Righty Zach Pop likely has the inside track for a relief job. The lefty Mayza, who would need to be added to the 40-man roster, Chase Shugart, who has a minor-league option remaining, and McCambley are in the mix after that.
“At the start of camp, I said we’re going to have some tough decisions,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson recently said about the bullpen, “so we’re still working on it.”
McCambley is the first Rule 5 pick the Phillies have brought to camp since Noah Song, who never made it to the majors, in 2023. The club has not carried a Rule 5 pick on the big-league roster since outfielder Tyler Goeddel in 2016. And that drought could continue through 2026, depending on what the Phillies choose to do with McCambley.
If the Phillies don’t want to include McCambley on their initial regular-season roster and are unable to work out a trade with another club (which would then have to keep him on its big-league team for the season) or a deal with Miami to keep him and option him, they would have to designate him for assignment. Assuming he clears waivers, he would then be offered back to the Marlins.
Regardless of the outcome, McCambley will appreciate the look and the opportunity that the Phillies have given him.
“Wherever I go in my career, this is a top-class organization,” McCambley said. “So I’m going to take whatever they gave me here and, wherever I end up, I’m going to continue to just build off of the stuff that I’ve learned here.”