Adjusting to the pressures that come with playing baseball in a passionate and sports obsessed city like Philadelphia has proven to be quite the challenge for players entering the Phillies organization over the years. Recent history is littered with names like Jake Arrieta, Dave Robertson, Taijuan Walker and Whit Merrifield who signed with the Phillies as free agents, but failed to live up to the hype once it was time to suit up and show what they've got out on a baseball field.
While it's obviously premature to push the panic button 11 games into the 2025 season, Jordan Romano's first five appearances out of the bullpen has quickly become a cause for concern. Concern is the operative word here after Phillies manager Rob Thomson used it to describe his assessment of Romano's poor start and fluctuating velocity. The former two-time All-Star closer's fastball currently sits well below the 96-98 mph range he flashed when closing games for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Signed to a one-year, $8.5 million free agent deal by the Phillies to replace key bullpen arms like Jeff Hoffman and Carlos Estévez, who each departed in free agency this offseason, Romano's 15.75 ERA and 2.50 WHIP has been a troubling development after failing to deliver during his first four innings in a Phillies uniform.
The Phillies gave Merrifield a very long leash to get things going at the plate last season, opting to release the veteran just before the All-Star break. So, Romano will likely be given every chance to turn things around before a decision like that is made.
Orion Kerkering should see more high-leverage chances after Jordan Romano’s struggles for the Phillies
While Romano tries to figure things out pitching in lower leverage situations for the time being, the Phillies are going to need another right-handed reliever to step up and get big outs for the team in the eight and ninth in the interim.
Situations like this can open the door for other players to take the next step in their careers. This situation could be the first extended opportunity for Orion Kerkering to earn save opportunities a year and a half after making his MLB debut.
Giving Kerkering higher leverage work and more save opportunities is not a fresh perspective by any means, but it's also not much of a reach either. The hard-throwing 24-year-old more than held his own during his rookie season in 2024, evidenced after producing a 2.29 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, while striking out 74 batters in 63 innings and earning 15 holds over 64 appearances.
Despite those numbers, Kerkering has yet to save a game during his first three chances dating back to last season. That's likely to change very soon.
Orion Kerkering, Vicious 86mph Sweeper. 💫
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 3, 2025
19 inches of horizontal break pic.twitter.com/DOMhzM1IuI
With Romano's early season struggles earning concern from his manager and the ire of an impatient Phillies fan base, Kerkering has quietly picked up where he left off last year. Despite a rough inning of work in a frustrating 7-5 loss against the rival Braves earlier this week, Kerkering has a 1.93 ERA and two holds over his first 4 2/3 innings of work this season. While opposing hitters are currently batting .278 against him, it's unlikely hitters will continue to bat .400 against his four-seam fastball for long.
Kerkering's established three-pitch mix consisting of a four-seamer, a sinker and a sweeper are the perfect weapons for any potential high-leverage relief pitcher. That being said, Kerkering's sweeper is the best pitch in his arsenal. As such, he has relied on it 68 percent of the time this season. When thrown in conjunction with his 96.9 mph four-seamer and 96 mph sinker, Kerkering's balance of funky movement and high velocity point toward him having future success in an expanded role.