That Balls Outta Here
FanSided

Are the Phillies going to start locking up their young talent?

By John Town

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 3: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park on July 3, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JULY 3: Aaron Nola #27 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the top of the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park on July 3, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – JULY 23: Starting pitcher Jerad Eickhoff #48 of the Philadelphia Phillies throws a pitch in the first inning during a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Citizens Bank Park on July 23, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Jerad Eickhoff

This season was about Jerad Eickhoff staying healthy. He has already failed to do that as he will be sidelined until May with a lat strain. He dealt with upper back issues last year as well, but manager Gabe Kapler said that they are unrelated.

Whenever Eickhoff does come back, the Phillies are hoping he can pitch like he did the first two seasons of his career. After being traded to Philadelphia in the 2015 Cole Hamels deal, he had a 3.44 ERA, 4.00 fielding-independent pitching, 3.93 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and 1.14 WHIP in his first career 41 starts.

Injuries plagued him last year as his ERA climbed to 4.71 and his walk rate went from 5.2 percent the year prior to 9.2 percent. He made 24 starts before being shut down for the year.

If Eickhoff comes back strong from this injury and looks more like the pitcher from two years ago, there may be enough confidence to sign him to an extension after the season. He will hit arbitration after this season before becoming a free agent for the 2022 season. On the other hand, he will turn 28 years old this year and there are concerns about whether or not he can stay healthy. Ultimately, the likelihood he gets an extension depends on how this season goes.

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