Stormers bring back former MLB pitcher Diehl for pitching depth

Phillip Diehl is back with the Lancaster Stormers for the 2025 season, and Ross Peeples’ latest move gives the club another left-handed reliever with major league experience. The question is whether Diehl is in Lancaster to dominate the Atlantic League, rebuild value for another affiliated opportunity, or settle in as a veteran anchor for the Stormers’ pitching staff.

Peeples announced the re-signing, putting Diehl back in place for a team that keeps leaning on experienced arms as it fills out a season-long staff. Diehl has the profile Atlantic League clubs keep coming back to: a pitcher with MLB background, a left-on-left look from the bullpen, and the kind of pro track record that can shorten the learning curve when roster turnover starts to pile up.

Baseball-Reference lists Diehl as a pitcher who bats left and throws left, with a birth date of July 16, 1994, in Cincinnati, Ohio. MLB.com also maintains a player profile for him, confirming the major league background that makes his return more than a routine depth move. In a league built around giving former affiliated players a place to keep competing, that history matters as much as the arm itself.

The Atlantic League describes itself as a professional partner league, and Lancaster’s decision to bring Diehl back fits the way its clubs operate. A returning veteran gives the Stormers a known commodity, someone Peeples already understands on the mound and in the clubhouse, which cuts down on the uncertainty that comes with bringing in a fresh arm. It also gives Lancaster another option for innings, whether that means late-game leverage or bridging the gap when the rotation needs help.

That mix of familiarity and utility is why a player like Diehl remains valuable in independent baseball. For the Stormers, the move is less about making a splash than about banking on experience, left-handed balance, and the possibility that a strong run in Lancaster can still open a door elsewhere.