One of the biggest storylines from the Philadelphia Phillies' 2024 season, and not for a good reason, was the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation. After the Phillies lost surprise rotation stud Spencer Turnbull to injury in June, the fifth spot was a black hole of performances that ranged from uninspiring mediocrity to downright disasters.
Veteran right-hander Taijuan Walker was supposed to be the guy that manager Rob Thomson could run out every fifth day as a body to eat some innings. Thanks to injuries and the worst season by a Phillies pitcher in 30 years, Walker was more of a liability than an asset. He went 3-7 with a 7.10 ERA in 83 2/3 innings between the rotation and bullpen.
Any other veteran would have been cut from the roster long ago. However, the 32-year-old's massive contract — the Phillies still owe his $36 million over the next two seasons — has kept him around. The team hopes that an offseason program to build up his arm and increase his velocity will help him become a usable option in 2025.
Phillies hope Taijuan Walker's offseason program pays off in 2025
The good news is that Thomson gave an encouraging update on how Walker's offseason has gone during a recent appearance on The Phillies Show podcast.
"I hope Taijuan really benefits from this program," Thomson said. "I've talked to him a couple of times over the course of the offseason and [his] body feels good, arm feels really good. [Bullpen coach] Cesar Ramos went out to see him and said since Cesar's been with him, this is the best that Taijuan has looked. So hopefully it translates. Now we got a lot of depth, now we got things happening."
The bar is set low for Walker this spring. Unlike last year at this time, he isn't being penciled into the starting rotation, thank goodness. With electric lefty Jesús Luzardo joining the starting five, the Phillies boast one of the deepest rotations.
But the Phillies still want to see how they can deploy Walker this year. Right now, as pitchers and catchers are beginning training camp, it looks like he has an inside track on the eighth and final spot in the bullpen. Can Walker thrive as a long-relief option?
Last season out of the bullpen, Walker posted a 6.52 ERA in four games. Opposing batters teed off with a .333 batting average and a .471 slugging percentage over his 9 2/3 relief innings. Hopefully, through his offseason work and with a full spring training in that role, he can adapt and redeem himself this year.
He'll be one of the spring training storylines to watch. This time we're all hoping the story has a better outcome.