ST. LOUIS — Zach Eflin warms up before home games with the opening notes of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird” piping through the Citizens Bank Park soundsystem, presenting the perfect ballad to match Eflin’s relaxed demeanor on the mound.
There may not be a friendlier presence in the Phillies clubhouse than the laidback Eflin. His 6-foot-6 frame is filled with positivity, win or loss. But it is that bright outlook that the Phillies thought was following Eflin onto the mound. He was perhaps pitching a bit too nice.
The Phillies pushed him to be more imposing. They wanted him to attack and use his height to his advantage, look mean, and throw his four-seam fastball with authority.