With velo up in debut, Walker has sights set on rotation spot

DUNEDIN, Fla. -- Taijuan Walker looked and sounded confident on Sunday afternoon at TD Ballpark.

It was a remarkable turnaround from last spring.

“All last year,” Walker said during a 5-4 loss to the Blue Jays.

In a relatively quiet Phillies camp without many compelling storylines, Walker might be the most interesting of all, especially after the way he threw on Sunday. He allowed two hits, one run and struck out one over two innings in his Grapefruit League debut.

“The biggest thing for me is I can just control what I can control,” Walker said. “Go out there and get results. Pitch the best I can pitch. And whatever happens, happens.”

Walker has two years and $36 million remaining on his four-year, $72 million contract. The Phillies said he is not guaranteed a spot on the Opening Day roster. He is not a lock because he went 3-7 with a 7.10 ERA in 19 appearances (15 starts) last season.

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Walker not only lost his job in the rotation at the end of the season, but the Phillies acquired Jesús Luzardo in December to join a five-man rotation that includes Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Cristopher Sánchez and Ranger Suárez. They have said they expect No. 2 prospect Andrew Painter to join the rotation in the summer, too.

That’s six starters for five spots, or six starters for six spots, if they employ a six-man rotation.

Walker is No. 7 on the list.

“Who knows?” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “Jobs are up for grabs. The best guy is gonna get it.”

But not a rotation job, right? A bullpen job maybe?

“No, rotation,” Thomson said. “I mean, if somebody else doesn’t throw well and he’s throwing great, you know? Who knows what’s going to happen? We’ve got a ways to go yet. And usually it works itself out.”

Walker’s easiest path to a spot on the roster probably remains as the bullpen’s long man. But Thomson is correct. Who knows? Injuries happen. If Walker is for real, he could generate trade interest.

“We have five really good pitchers,” Walker said. “So my thing is just go out there, get outs. Just pitch as well as I can and leave it up to them.”

Walker’s first pitch Sunday hit 93.7 mph. He touched 93.9 mph. His four-seam fastball averaged 92.9 mph.

Compare that to his first Grapefruit League start last year: his four-seam fastball averaged 89.4 mph. Compare that to last season: he threw only 27 pitches at 93.0 mph or harder. He touched 93.9 mph only once, while his four-seam fastball averaged only 91.5 mph.

Walker allowed a solo home run to right field in the first inning to Daulton Varsho on a sweeper that was below the strike zone. It was a good pitch. He got four outs on his splitter, including three groundouts and one swing-and-miss strikeout.

“It was a really bad year,” Walker said about 2024. “I feel like I'm a lot better pitcher than that. And I think today was kind of the start to where I'm getting back to my normal self. I want to go out and help the team. And that's my focus right now. Taking it game by game. So far so good.”

Walker said he is healthier this year. He had a knee and shoulder issue last spring. He rushed back to pitch during the season. It didn’t work.

“I feel like my normal self again,” Walker said.

Teammates noticed a difference on Sunday.

“It felt like the heater was coming out good,” shortstop Trea Turner said. “He looked sharp. The one mistake he had, I don’t even think it was a mistake. It was a lucky swing on a pitch.”

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“Since the first day of Spring Training, the bullpen, the live ABs, even today, everything is looking good, like it’s jumping, his heater, his split is nasty,” catcher Rafael Marchan said. “I mean, every pitch that he threw today was really good. I like the way that he's been throwing the ball because he looked confident, he looked healthy. And that's the most important thing. I’m happy for him and happy to see what he can do.”

The Phillies want to see, too. So does everybody. There is a long way to go and much to prove.

“My thing is just to get built up like a starter and see where it goes,” Walker said. “Spring, it's hard for everyone to stay healthy. So I'm going to be ready for any role.”