The Philadelphia Phillies have been relatively lucky regarding injuries in this young season (knock on wood). The biggest hurdle they’ve had to overcome was missing starting pitcher Taijuan Walker from the rotation when Opening Day rolled around. Orion Kerkering also started the season on the injured list, but that was due to missing time in spring training due to a flu bug, but he has since returned.
They’ve also been without relief pitcher Luis Ortiz since he sprained his ankle jumping for a ball on opening weekend. And pitchers Dylan Covey and Michael Rucker went on the IL after dealing with their own issues in spring training.
It looks like all four Phillies pitchers currently on the IL are on the mend and working their way back to game action, per MLB.com’s injury report.
Offseason acquisition Michael Rucker disappeared from action early in spring training after appearing in games on Feb. 26 and March 1. We later found out that he was dealing with numbness in his right middle finger, officially diagnosed as right hand arterial vasospasm. Luckily, the numbness has lessened, and the right-hander has begun playing catch.
The right-handed reliever, who the Phillies picked up in a trade with the Chicago Cubs, had a shot at the open bullpen spot in the spring but will likely start his season in Triple-A Lehigh Valley once he returns.
Phillies Injury Update: Dylan Covey throwing long toss
Right-hander Dylan Covey also made his last spring training appearance on March 1 before hitting the shelf with a right shoulder sprain. He hasn’t thrown off a mound since that outing, but the good news is that he’s started playing long toss.
Covey is heading into his first full season with the Phillies after being traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. He had a chance to win a bullpen spot in the spring but will have to earn his way back to the majors.
Luis Ortiz, who had some bad luck after spraining his ankle jumping for a ball in the first series of the season, is scheduled to throw a live bullpen session today in Clearwater. The right-hander is getting closer to a return, but there’s still no date for his expected return.
Phillies Injury Update: Taijuan Walker pitching in Triple-A
Taijuan Walker will make his second rehab start today for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs. The Phillies expect the right-hander, who’s returning from a right shoulder impingement, to throw 80 pitches and hopefully go five innings.
He gave up two runs in four innings in his first rehab outing on April 11 with the Low-A Clearwater Threshers. Per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, his four-seam fastball averaged only 91 mph and touched 91.9 mph.
Walker’s absence and impressive pitching by fill-in Spencer Turnbull have created somewhat of a logjam at the back of the Phillies rotation, which so far has been one of the best in MLB. Walker is expected back in early May, so it will be interesting to see what the front office decides to do with the rotation.
