Kyle Backhus

Kyle Jordan Backhus (born January 31, 1998) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Arizona Diamondbacks. He made his MLB debut in 2025.

Career Arizona Diamondbacks Backhus played college baseball at Sam Houston State from 2017 to 2021. He signed with the Arizona Diamondbacks as an undrafted free agent on July 20, 2021. Backhus split his first professional season between the High-A Visalia Rawhide and High-A Hillsboro Hops. He split the 2022 campaign between the Double-A Amarillo Sod Poodles and Hillsboro, accumulating a 3-5 record and 3.27 ERA with 78 strikeouts and six saves in innings pitched over 40 games.

Backhus split the 2023 season between Amarillo and the Triple-A Reno Aces. In 51 appearances out of the bullpen for the two affiliates, he posted a combined 5-5 record and 3.67 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 10 saves across innings pitched. Backhus made 38 appearances for Reno and the rookie-level Arizona Complex League Diamondbacks in 2024, compiling an aggregate 2-3 record and 3.79 ERA with 44 strikeouts and one save across innings pitched.

Backhus began the 2025 season with Triple-A Reno, posting a 4-4 record and 2.22 ERA with 36 strikeouts in innings pitched across 22 appearances. On June 8, 2025, Backhus was selected to the 40-man roster and promoted to the major leagues for the first time. He made 32 appearances for the Diamondbacks during his rookie campaign, compiling an 0-3 record and 4.62 ERA with 22 strikeouts and two saves over innings pitched.

Philadelphia Phillies On December 19, 2025, Backhus was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for Avery Owusu-Asiedu.