The Philadelphia Phillies are being forced into using their emergency rotation option early this season. With left-hander Ranger Suárez beginning the year on the 15-day IL, manager Rob Thomson is turning to Taijuan Walker as the fifth starter just one week into the schedule.
Walker will make his 2025 season debut on Thursday. The afternoon start against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park already has Phillies fans anxious about what they're going to see.
It originally looked like the plan was for the Phillies to stick the $18 million right-hander Walker in the bullpen to start the season. The 32-year-old veteran heading into his 13th MLB season was always going to be the Phillies' rotation backup plan. Fans were likely hoping it was a plan they wouldn't see implemented for a while.
If you've been living under a rock, or are brand new to Phillies fandom, last year didn't go well for Walker — and that's understating it. He struggled to the worst season in 30 years for a Phillies pitcher, and didn't fare much better when he was relegated to the bullpen.
Now, the Phillies are going to run him out there again, hoping that he'll magically figure it out after struggling through his final two spring outings. While the Rockies are a soft landing for Walker, he'll have to make multiple starts before Suárez is ready to return.
What happens if things go sideways? Who do the Phillies have in the organization who can step in and provide some semblance of relief from a potential looming disaster in the fifth spot of the starting rotation?
3 Phillies depth starters who can replace Taijuan Walker if disaster unfolds
Here are three options the Phillies could turn to in case disaster strikes and Walker becomes unusable. We're not saying these options are a magic fix-all, but they might offer more than Walker can at this point in his snake-bitten Phillies tenure.
Kyle Tyler, RHP
Already on the 40-man roster and with a minor league option remaining, 28-year-old Kyle Tyler is a candidate to see time in the majors this season in an emergency. He spent most of 2024 in Triple-A, split between Jacksonville and Lehigh Valley, posting a 4.18 ERA and 1.30 WHIP in 18 games (16 starts). He also spent time in the majors with the Miami Marlins. He went 0-2 in eight games (seven starts) with a 5.40 ERA in 31 2/3 innings.
Tyler made numerous appearances for the Phillies in spring training. He pitched in six Grapefruit League games, picking up seven strikeouts but with six walks in 9 1/3 innings. He looked like he might have a shot at the Opening Day roster, as he allowed just two unearned runs on five hits through his first 7 2/3 innings. He unraveled in his final game, however, giving up five runs on four hits in 1 2/3 innings.
Seth Johnson, RHP
Okay, you might remember Seth Johnson's MLB debut late last season as being an absolute disaster, but the Phillies traded for him for a reason. The team's No. 13 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, has some quality stuff, which he showed off in his first Triple-A start of the season for the IronPigs. The 26-year-old right-hander went 5 1/3 shutout innings, giving up five hits, with one walk and five strikeouts to pick up the win.
Johnson appeared in two Grapefruit League games this spring, without giving up any runs on four hits through 3 1/3 innings. He only registered one strikeout, while walking two. The former Orioles prospect is already on the 40-man roster and has one minor league option remaining. After carrying a 2.74 ERA through 23 Triple-A innings last season, it seems like a matter of time before he gets another shot in the big leagues — if he can keep the walks under control to begin the year.
Alan Rangel, RHP
Alan Rangel, 27, appeared in three Grapefruit League games for the Phillies this spring, posting a 1.80 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in five innings. The righty walked three, struck out four and held opposing hitters to a .176 average.
After the Phillies signed Rangel last summer, he pitched to a 4.30 ERA in 10 games (five starts) for Lehigh Valley and demonstrated some strikeout ability and good command. He recorded 25 punch outs and just eight walks in 29 1/3 innings. He finished the year strong, with a 1.76 ERA and 15 strikeouts to one walk in 15 1/3 frames over his final four outings.
Rangel allowed three runs on four hits with three strikeouts and two walks over four innings in his first Triple-A start this year. Despite making his minor league debut in 2015 in the Atlanta Braves system, he has yet to get a shot in the big leagues. He has minor league options remaining, and is on the 40-man roster, so he could be a candidate to get a call from the Phillies.
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