After having his season cut short last year due to a sprained elbow, Phillies righthander Aaron Nola admits to a much greater appreciation for being able to apply his craft.
In Nola's case that will occur on Saturday when he takes the mound against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park.
"Absolutely I will appreciate it more," Nola said before Friday's home opener with Nationals. "We take it for granted sometimes, it is really easy to do because we do it every single day."
Those days stopped last season for Nola on July 28, his last appearance when he allowed three earned runs in five innings of a 7-5 victory at Atlanta.