Many Philadelphia Phillies fans have already thrown in the towel regarding longtime ace Aaron Nola, viewing his horrifying 2025 season as the beginning of a rapid decline for the former All-Star. Nola’s decision to pitch for Team Italy in the 2026 World Baseball Classic was greeted with a healthy dose of skepticism, but his dominant performance in the team’s final game of pool play should inspire confidence for a bounce back season.
The seventh overall pick back in 2014, Nola came to the Phillies with loads of potential during one of the darkest periods in franchise history. It didn’t take long for the Louisiana native to make good on that promise, as he made his big league debut in July of the following year and immediately took up the mantle of staff ace.
The 6’2” right-hander broke out in 2018, when he tossed 212 ⅓ innings over 33 starts with a minuscule 2.37 ERA, punching out 224 batters along the way. That electric season earned Nola his first All-Star selection, and he finished third in National League Cy Young Award voting.
The Louisiana State product never quite lived up to that insane peak again, but through his first nine seasons in red pinstripes, Nola posted a rock solid 3.72 ERA across 1,422 innings. He started 235 contests in that span, and proved to be one of the most durable and dependable starting pitchers in all of baseball. Nola’s steadiness and years of service earned him a hefty seven-year, $172 million contract to stay in Philly ahead of the 2024 campaign.
2024 was more of the same, as Nola worked to a 3.57 ERA over a league-leading 33 starts. Unfortunately, that incredible streak of reliability would come to a screeching halt this past season, as for the first time in his career Nola was unable to remain healthy, nor effective. Rib and ankle injuries limited the 32-year-old to only 94 ⅓ innings pitched over 17 starts. Worse yet, he was clobbered to the tune of a 6.01 ERA and recorded an ugly 5-10 record.
The heavy workload that Nola has racked up over 11 big league campaigns, coupled with career-worst results and diminished velocity this past season, have led to something close to mass panic among Phillies fans regarding the pitcher’s future performance. With playoff legend Ranger Suárez leaving in free agency, and current ace Zack Wheeler set to begin the coming season on the shelf, another poor showing from Nola could significantly hamper the Phillies’ World Series hopes for 2026.
All of that is why Nola’s decision to represent Team Italy at this year’s World Baseball Classic was second guessed by some fans. With the veteran hurler’s outlook up in the air, a prevailing question was wouldn’t it be wise for him to spend the spring with the team doing everything he can to prepare for a successful season? Besides, what's his connection to Italy anyway?
Aaron Nola's dominant WBC performance should inspire confidence in Phillies fans
Aaron Nola chose to honor his paternal great-grandparents, emigrants from the aptly-named town of Nola, Italy. The veteran hurler became the biggest name on a Team Italy roster brimming with Italian-American stars like Vinnie Pasquantino, Jac Caglianone, Jakob Marsee and former Phillie Michael Lorenzen, not to mention 2024 Phils first-rounder Dante Nori.
After cruising through their first three games, Team Italy handed the ball to their ace Nola in a pivotal matchup against Mexico where a win meant the club would advance to the quarterfinals (and also save Team USA’s bacon after a humiliating loss the night before). Nola quieted any doubts Italian and Phillies fans may have had by twirling five brilliant innings of shutout baseball. Nola utilized his typical pinpoint command and vintage hammer curveball to lethal effect, holding his opponents to just four hits and a single walk, while fanning five hitters over 69 pitches.
The Italian club’s dominant 9-1 stomping of Team Mexico secured them a berth in the quarterfinals, where the team will match up with Puerto Rico on Saturday afternoon. They're now on the opposite side of the bracket from the United States squad they nearly derailed, then saved; that club's been beleaguered by poor performance and even worse management. While Nola won’t start that game due to the short turnaround time, he’ll certainly be called upon in the semifinals, or perhaps the championship game itself if Team Italy advances that far. For a longtime Phillie who seemed like he may have lost what once made him special, it’s good to see Aaron Nola perform at his best in pressure-packed moments.