October baseball is back in Philly as the Philadelphia Phillies eye the start of the National League Division Series next week. Will they make any surprising additions to their postseason roster this year?
The club has some concerns despite clinching a first-round bye through the Wild Card round. The Phillies' starting rotation and bullpen look to be their primary concerns heading into the playoffs. Who could manager Rob Thomson add to the roster for the NLDS?
It could come down to who the Phillies' opponent will be, but there are options currently with the team or with their Triple-A affiliate, the Lehigh Valley IronPigs, to be considered.
2 surprising Phillies who could contribute in the postseason
Taijuan Walker, RHP
Taijuan Walker does not appear to be an obvious addition to the Phillies for playoff baseball. He made the 2023 postseason roster but didn't see any game action. Thomson did not include him on the NLDS roster in 2024. The Phillies' skipper has piggybacked the right-hander with Walker Buehler recently for a playoff bullpen role. Both Walker and Buehler may make the roster for the NLDS.
Philadelphia suffered a big blow to its starting rotation late in August following the news that Zack Wheeler would be out for the rest of the year due to venous thoracic outlet syndrome. Aaron Nola has not been himself all season due to time missed with injuries and an overall drop in production.
Taijuan Walker, Nasty 88mph Splitter. ✌️ pic.twitter.com/NXvfgHp5Nq
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) August 5, 2025
The bullpen also has concerns with Orion Kerkering in a slump (subscription required) and Jhoan Duran not looking as indomitable as he did following the team's trade for him. A forearm injury and the terms of a suspension have ended José Alvarado's year. Jordan Romano did not do well enough during the season when healthy. His right middle finger inflammation has developed into a concerning nerve issue. He looks unlikely to be available to pitch again this year. David Robertson has not been as good lately as he was late in the summer.
The Phillies' NLDS series against the Mets last year is evidence of how a season can quickly end due to struggles from one or more position groups. Philadelphia's bullpen was horrific last October and they need as many pitching reinforcements as possible entering the playoffs.
Walker may not be a playoff starting pitcher, but Thomson needs as many options available to use in case of a starter's ineffectiveness at the start of a game or due to a potential injury. The manager does not appear to have as much of a luxury this year to not include the right-hander on the club's postseason roster due to some starters and relievers struggling or being injured.
Johan Rojas, OF
Johan Rojas has not been with the Phillies since his demotion to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Triple-A following the club's trade at the end of July for Harrison Bader. Rojas may be needed, though, at the start of the postseason. He is part of the team's "stay hot" camp, as The Philadelphia Inquirer's Lochlahn March reports.
Thomson may take advantage of Rojas' defensive skills if the 25-year-old is put on the playoff roster. He's shown the ability before, including his incredible catch late in Game 4 of the 2023 NLDS against the Atlanta Braves. Had he not been able to make the catch, the Phillies may have lost the game, and the series may have shifted in the Braves' favor.
OH MY RO pic.twitter.com/MJtNmL3qQy
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 24, 2025
There has been controversy between the local Philadelphia media, Nick Castellanos and Thomson over the past few weeks. The outfielder has not been happy being included in the right-field platoon after being relied on heavily in previous years. He has managed to turn things around recently, however, following a couple of months of offensive struggles.
Max Kepler seems to be better not being played every day. Right now, Bader and Brandon Marsh have been two of the Phillies' best hitters and should be playing often in October.
While the outfield is playing well overall, Rojas could still be added to the NLDS roster. Thomson will get creative at the start or during a game if he wants to use him during the playoffs. The decision to add Rojas would make the club's outfield rotation even more unpredictable. However, it could be useful, especially if an injury occurs to one of their other players in the position group during a postseason game.