Philip Abner thrown to deep end in MLB debut, strikes out Kyle Schwarber

PHOENIX — A pitcher who started this season in High-A made his major league debut during a one-run game while his team fights to stay alive in a pennant chase, and his first batter faced was an MVP candidate.

Such is the situation the Arizona Diamondbacks find themselves in, and 23-year-old Philip Abner got the job done on Friday at Chase Field.

The Diamondbacks inserted the left-handed Abner in the seventh inning while trailing 3-2 to go get likely MVP finalist Kyle Schwarber and two-time MVP winner Bryce Harper. Welcome to the big leagues.

Abner struck out Schwarber with a fastball above the zone for his first MLB at-bat. Harper singled, and J.T. Realmuto walked to load the bases. In a predicament, Abner struck out Brandon Marsh looking to end the inning.

Philip Abner's first batter faced in The Show? Kyle Schwarber and his 53 homers.

The @Dbacks' 2023 sixth-rounder gets his first strikeout anyway! pic.twitter.com/tLtbVkPMUH

— MLB Pipeline (@MLBPipeline) September 20, 2025

The young southpaw saw his first big league matchups coming.

“Our bullpen coach came in and grabbed me from the locker room,” Abner said pregame, recalling the moment he found about about getting called up.

“He said we need to talk about my availability and they were making sure I can go back-to-back games. ‘Of course,’ I said, ‘Absolutely, I can do whatever.’ They said, ‘Alright, well the next hitters you might have to face are gonna be Harper and Schwarber.'”

Abner made a face.

“It was a lot, it was a lot in the moment, but I’m excited,” Abner continued.

Manager Torey Lovullo made it clear pregame that anyone who gets called up is expected to contribute right away, a prelude to tossing Abner into the deep end. A softer landing would have been ideal, but with the state of the bullpen, the need came up.

“ I love those moments. I was trying to give him a better spot, but it’s just how it is,” Lovullo said. “We need everybody to contribute.

“We put a guy in the game to go get Schwarber, Harper, Marsh, whatever it was, who started in Hillsboro this year, our High-A team. That’s where we’re at. But when you watch it happen and you have that type of success, it’s very gratifying as an organization.”

Lovullo mentioned southpaw Andrew Saalfrank was not available as he deals with shoulder soreness. Jalen Beeks had already pitched.

Abner moved up to Double-A Amarillo in May of this season and Triple-A Reno by late August. He made only eight appearances for the Aces, which were all scoreless.

He said throwing strikes has been the key to his ascension. He lowered his walk rate to 6.8% in the minors this year (8.4% is the major league average, for reference).

He described his arsenal as a fastball that doesn’t blow anyone away but has cutting action, along with a sweeper and a spike curveball.

“It’s just been crazy, starting in Hillsboro this year, I didn’t think there was a chance I was gonna get here this year,” Abner said. “With all the injuries and just the roster moves, I mean, it happened and I’m glad it happened. I’m happy I’m here.”

Abner’s parents flew in from North Carolina to watch his debut.

He is the fifth pitcher to make his MLB debut with the Diamondbacks this season.

Arizona lost Friday’s game, 8-2.

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