Things may not be going the Philadelphia Phillies' way recently, losing four straight and 11 of their last 15 games, but at least they have received some good news regarding three of their pitchers on the injury front.
Phillies News: Andrew Painter, Taijuan Walker, Spencer Turnbull all making progress
After the last positive update a month ago, we have another encouraging report on Phillies No. 1 prospect Andrew Painter. After undergoing Tommy John surgery last July, Painter has now recovered to the stage at which he has started throwing off a mound in Clearwater.
He won’t be returning to action any time soon, not until the 2025 season, but this is a first step in the right direction for the 21-year-old phenom. Despite missing over a year of action, Painter is still the No. 4-ranked pitching prospect in all of baseball, which speaks volumes about his potential. Hopefully all of this will be worth the wait for the Phillies.
Taijuan Walker makes first rehab appearance
Taijuan Walker has been on the IL since June 23 due to right index finger inflammation. According to Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer, Walker began his rehab assignment with the Phillies’ Double-A affiliate Reading on Wednesday. He pitched 2 2/3 innings and allowed three runs on four hits with one walk and three strikeouts, with 31 of his 41 pitches going for strikes.
He's scheduled to pitch again for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Aug. 6 to further build up his innings. From there, Phillies manager Rob Thomson indicated that they would decide on the next course of action for Walker at that point, with a mid-August return likely possible following the Phillies return from the west coast trip.
Given that Walker’s ability to throw his splitter has improved in recent bullpen sessions, it bodes well for a return to the rotation after reinstatement from the IL. On the season, he has compiled a 3-3 record with a 5.60 ERA and 1.49 WHIP with 43 strikeouts in 53 innings over 10 starts.
Spencer Turnbull now throwing again
As for Spencer Turnbull, he has been sidelined since the end of June due to a right lat strain. Turnbull began throwing a short bullpen session on July 29 and will continue his rehab in Clearwater if given the green light.
His initial injury timeline has him in the six-to-eight week timeframe, which still remains the case. But worth noting is the fact that Turnbull will likely pitch in the capacity as a reliever upon his return, given that there won’t be enough time in his rehab to stretch him out as a starter. This season, he has posted a 3-0 record with a tidy 2.65 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, along with 58 strikeouts in 54 1/3 innings pitched over 17 games, including seven starts.
Hopefully, both Walker and Turnbull will be fully recovered soon enough to play a significant role in helping the Phillies get back on track down the stretch.