First-time All-Star has been Phillies' 'most indispensable' player, says GM

You don't get to have the best record in Major League Baseball by accident.

The Philadelphia Phillies have been excellent throughout 2024, save for one rough patch in late July/early August. At 90-60, they're the only team to cross the 90-win threshold, and the only team at least 30 games over .500 at this point in the year.

It takes a full roster stepping up to put a team in the position the Phillies are in, and unsung heroes must necessarily arise. That is certainly the case for these Phillies, who had a pair of first-time All-Stars emerge this season in their bullpen.

One of those All-Stars earned the highest possible praise from his own general manager on Tuesday.

Jim Bowden of The Athletic surveyed executives of each contending team to gauge who their "most underrated, yet indispensable" players were, and Phillies GM Sam Fuld singled out lefty reliever Matt Strahm.

“Strahm is that guy for us. I know he was an All-Star, so maybe he doesn’t quite meet the (under-the-radar) criteria, but I feel like he’s an underappreciated player who can get lefties and righties out in any situation. He competes and wants the ball," Fuld said.

Few current pitchers have had a more unlikely path to stardom than Strahm. A 21st-round pick of the Kansas City Royals in 2012, Strahm put up a 17-28 record through his first seven seasons, while bouncing between three organizations. In Philadelphia, he's found salvation.

In two seasons as a Phillie, Strahm has a 2.81 ERA and 177 strikeouts in 144 1/3 innings pitched. In 2024 alone, he's cut those splits to 2.06 and 69 in 56 innings.

Something about coming to Philadelphia has rejuvenated the 32-year-old Strahm's big-league career. The Phillies only hope he continues pitching this well when his team arrives in the postseason.

More MLB: Phillies expected to be among teams bidding for $500 million superstar, insider says