3 Phillies players with the most health concerns going into the 2024 season
Whose health could mean the difference between success and failure for the Phillies this season?
One of the keys for a ballclub to have success is to maintain a healthy, competitive lineup as much as possible throughout the MLB season.
The Philadelphia Phillies faced adversity right from the start of the 2023 season. With superstar Bryce Harper on the sidelines from Tommy John surgery to begin the season, first baseman Rhys Hoskins suffered a season-ending injury on a routine play during spring training to put the Phillies in a bind right from the get-go.
But somehow and some way, despite some bumps and kinks along the way, the Phillies were able to survive the initial part of the season. Things eventually began to look brighter when Harper came back early from his major injury ahead of schedule. In doing so, the Phillies slowly gained momentum for the rest of the season and ultimately made the playoffs.
Of course, other players on the team suffered ailments along the way, but the Phillies managed to overcome those obstacles as well to make the 2023 season a success overall.
So now, with a new season ahead of us in 2024, which players could present the most health concerns for the Phillies in their quest to make the postseason for the third consecutive year? Here are three key Phillies players whose health could mean the difference between success and failure for the ballclub this season.
Ranger Suárez
One of the Phillies' most intriguing and promising pitchers in recent years is left-handed pitcher Ranger Suárez. Since moving from a reliever to a starting role back in 2021, he hasn't looked back and has yet to relinquish that position so far in the past couple of seasons. In 2022, he set career highs in wins (10), innings pitched (155 1/3), and strikeouts (129) and became one of the main cogs in the starting rotation with 29 starts.
However, Suárez was beset by ill-timed injuries during the course of the 2023 season. A left elbow injury just prior to the start of the season kept him out until mid-May, while later on in the summer, an injury to his right hamstring caused him to miss crucial games down the stretch as well. But Suárez certainly came back in the nick of time to show his value during the postseason when he went 1-1 with a stellar 1.93 ERA and 0.80 WHIP, with 19 strikeouts in just 18 2/3 innings pitched.
With the Phillies keeping their 2023 starting rotation intact following the re-signing of Aaron Nola this offseason, it will be vital that Suárez remains at his best and on top of his game to help the ballclub the most. He'll need to stay as healthy as possible in 2024 to anchor the back end of the rotation and give the Phillies the best chance to win it all. After all, he is their secret weapon in the playoffs.
Seranthony Domínguez
Seranthony Domínguez played a critical role during the Phillies 2022 run to the World Series. Coming off Tommy John surgery back in 2021, he remained relatively healthy during the course of the 2022 season as he missed just a little over two weeks due to right triceps tendinitis. He had a solid year out of the bullpen, pitching to a 6-5 record with 15 holds, a 3.00 ERA, a 1.14 WHIP, and 61 strikeouts in 51 innings of work over 54 appearances. He continued his dominance in the playoffs, giving up just two runs over 10 2/3 innings of work while walking only one and striking out a whopping 18 batters.
However, in 2023, things were a little different for Domínguez as he struggled with his control for a fair chunk in the first half of the season, posting an ERA close to 4.50 and a horrific WHIP of 1.56. Eventually, he went down with a left oblique strain that kept him out of action for over a month between June and July.
Following his activation from the IL, Domínguez redeemed himself to some extent down the stretch. He went 3-3 with two saves and four holds, along with a tidy 2.49 ERA, a 1.06 WHIP and 18 strikeouts in 21 2/3 innings in his final 23 appearances in August and September. Perhaps his underlying injury was present earlier in the season and hindered his effectiveness, as he appeared to regain his dominant form from 2022 after recovery from the oblique injury.
Once again, he carried that momentum into the playoffs and put up zeroes across the board as he held opponents to zero earned runs in six appearances during the postseason.
The difference between a healthy Domínguez and an ailing one seems quite drastic. The key for the Phillies to have the dominant version of Domínguez anchoring their late-inning relief in 2024 is to ensure he is 100 percent.
José Alvarado
Finally, the success of the Phillies in 2024 could lie in the hands of bonafide reliever José Alvarado. With the departure of Craig Kimbrel to free agency this offseason, along with the Phillies' lack of pursuit of bullpen arms during this time, it appears Alvarado will be first in line for the closer role. He should get plenty of opportunity to save games this season as the potential closer-in-waiting for the ballclub.
He certainly deserves the opportunity. Not only has he had some previous experience in the role, but he actually did quite a fine job down the stretch last season when Kimbrel was struggling. Manager Rob Thomson no doubt has confidence in Alvarado's stuff to fill the role admirably, especially after he recorded 10 saves last year. Overall, he had an outstanding season, when on the mound, posting a career-best 1.74 ERA and 1.16 WHIP, along with an astounding 64 strikeouts in just 41 1/3 innings pitched.
However, the main concern will be if he can stay healthy all year. Looking back at last year, Alvarado had a recurring left elbow inflammation injury that twice kept him on the sidelines, for over two months of total time. Fortunately for the Phillies, they managed to survive without his services during that time as others stepped up in his absence, along with Kimbrel coincidentally happening to be at his best at the same time.
But there will be no Kimbrel in 2024, and there’s no guarantee the entire bullpen will be able to step up once again this time around. And presumably, as the primary closer, Alvarado’s health will be more important than ever. The Phillies should do what they can to ensure the best of health for the big man in 2024. The team will undoubtedly hope he stays healthy to help lead them to the playoffs and take care of some unfinished business.
manual