Taijuan Walker has had quite the whirlwind of a Philadelphia Phillies tenure so far. The 13-year MLB veteran led the team with 15 wins in an odd 2023 campaign that saw him left out of playoff action despite being on the roster, much to the distaste of Walker.
He followed that up with a horrendous 2024 in which he posted a putrid 7.10 ERA in 83 2/3 innings and once again rode the bench in October, this time to nobody's shock. Entering the third year of his four-year, $72 million contract, 2025 was as a crucial year for Walker as one could have. He's answered the Phillies' call for an effective swingman in what's become a pleasant surprise.
The 2025 version of Taijuan Walker has been a revelation for the Phillies' pitching staff
Over 85 innings pitched this season, Walker has recorded a 3.39 ERA and 1.29 WHIP, both on pace to be his best with the Phillies. He's allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his last six starts, including a six-inning, one-run outing on Monday that kept the Phillies in the game long enough to beat the Cincinnati Reds.
That start exemplified how huge Walker's resurgence has been for the Phillies' pitching staff in the absence of Aaron Nola, per MLB.com's Paul Casella.
"I busted my butt in the offseason," Walker said after Monday's 4-1 win, per Casella. "I wanted to come back this year and just show that I worked hard and I was ready to get back in the rotation."
Nola has been sidelined since May 16 with a right ankle sprain in a rare IL stint. After showing flashes of brilliance in the bullpen, Walker was slotted into Nola's spot in the rotation. He temporarily returned to the bullpen after a few spot starts by Mick Abel, but has stayed in the rotation since early July.
Currently, Nola is part of a handful of Phillies rehabbing for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He made his third start on Tuesday night and should rejoin the team soon. He's struggled mightily in just nine starts for the Phillies this season, with a 6.16 ERA and 1.51 WHIP to go with a 1-7 record. Upon Nola's return, it's highly believed that Walker will once again move the bullpen unless they employ a six-man rotation.
Fans understandably groaned when Walker was chosen as the guy to eat up most of Nola's innings in his absence. After all, Walker got booed during the Phillies' home opener introductions solely because he made the team's Opening Day roster. He's shut those fans up and then some, and his play has created an interesting decision for the front office to make in 2026.
With Andrew Painter waiting in the wings for the 2026 rotation, might the Phillies try and capitalize on Walker's solid run by trading him with one year left on his contract? He'd be an expensive reliever, but he could clearly be an effective swingman in place of an injury to the rotation. What we do know is that the Phillies don't have much of a reason to leave Walker off the postseason roster this time around.