Francisco Morales was signed as an international free agent out of Venezuela in 2016. Despite the interrupted 2020 season, the large-bodied right-hander ascended up the organization and was added to the 40-man roster prior to 2021. He spent the majority of that year as a starter at Reading to mixed results - mostly due to walking too many batters.
For 2022, the team had him return to Reading, but he would be working exclusively in relief. The switch to the bullpen seemed to agree with him, and he got off to an excellent start. When the Phillies found themselves short a reliever in May, Morales got the call.