The onset of Spring Training is usually a source of hope and renewal, but for one Phillie it may be a sense of foreboding.
It’s no secret that Taijuan Walker struggled in 2024. The 32-year-old right hander appeared in 19 games and pitched to the tune of a 7.10 ERA and posted -1.1 fWAR. That ERA was the worst among all pitchers with at least 80 innings pitched and that fWAR was second worst. Couple that with his lengthy injury stints due to blister problems and the Phillies acquisition of Jesús Luzardo, it’s not hard to see that Walker’s spot on the Opening Day roster is far from guaranteed.