Whitehead throwing against Bradenton on July 26, 2015, at Spectrum Field. ( Buck Davidson /Flickr Creative Commons)

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Philadelphia Phillies have reacquired former minor-league RHP David Whitehead, according to Baseball America.

Whitehead, 24, was drafted by the Phillies in the 34th round of the 2013 amateur draft out of Elon University in North Carolina. After spending two seasons in the Phillies system at Williamsport and Clearwater, where he combined for 38 starts, he was dealt to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Dec. 12, 2015, in exchange for veteran right-hander Charlie Morton.

Morton, a longtime Pirates starter, threw only 276 pitches in four starts in red pinstripes due to needed season-ending surgery to repair a torn hamstring.

The signing comes just short of two months since Whitehead was released by the Pirates on Dec. 16. Whitehead combined for a 5-8 record and a 7.52 ERA through 81 1/3 innings at the Pirates' Rookie and Double-A levels last season.