Phillips exceling out of the pen

For his entire baseball career, from little league to junior college through four years as a pro, Zach Phillips had been a starting pitcher.

And then he wasn't.

On the final day of spring training last year, the Texas Rangers told Phillips they were moving him to the bullpen.

"It didn't really matter to me, as long as I was still playing," said Phillips, 23. "I'm just trying to help the team out and trying to get better. It didn't really affect me too much."

The change has certainly affected Phillips' hopes of making it to the major leagues. He's now in his first Triple-A season, having been promoted from double-A Frsico on May 15.

"I think the change has changed my career for the better," Phillips said. "I'm more mentally focused, I'm pitching a lot better, and my arm feels in a lot better shape also."

Phillips had a 4.69 earned run average in four years as a starter. Since moving to the bullpen last year his ERA has been spectacular, at 1.24.

Not that he cares about those numbers.

"I'm not really into that," said the native of the picturesque, northern California town of Galt. "Just going out there and getting the job done is pretty much all I focus on."

Last year, in Class A and AA, Phillips had the best ERA (1.39) in the Texas organization, among pitchers with 50 or more innings worked.

His numbers have been even better this year, allowing two earned runs in 24 innings, for an ERA of 0.78.

Since joining the RedHawks he has been unscored upon in five appearances, over 9 1/3 innings.

Even though Phillips had always been a starter until last year, he appears better suited for relief.

"I think so, yeah," he said. "I just go out there and make my pitches and just throw them when I want to and let my defense do the work behind me. It's worked out. It's worked out good."

Drafted in the 23rd round in 2004, Phillips was added to the Rangers' 40-man roster for the first time last November. The 6-foot-1 lefthander definitely figures in Texas' plans now.

Comparing to when he was a starter, Phillips said, "I feel a lot better. My arm heals quickly, so I like it."

He also likes the all-out attitude of relief pitching, compared to the starters' mentality of sometimes pacing through games.

"You can just go out there and let it loose here and there," Phillips said. "I mean, not the whole time, but definitely more. You can just let it loose more than you can starting."