This story was excerpted from Todd Zolecki¡¯s Phillies Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Orion Kerkering texted Jeff Hoffman shortly after he signed a three-year, $33 million contract with the Blue Jays.

Hoffman was one of the Phillies¡¯ best relievers the past two years, consistently coming up big in hairy situations. He pitched so well in high-leverage spots that he made the 2024 NL All-Star team, parlaying that success into a considerable payday with Toronto.

¡°He said he was still going to check up on me, and make sure that I¡¯m listening to [Matt] Strahm,¡± Kerkering said Tuesday afternoon at Citizens Bank Park.

Kerkering went 5-3 with a 2.29 ERA in 64 appearances last year in his first full season in the big leagues. The Phillies believe he is ready to assume Hoffman¡¯s role.

Frankly, they¡¯re banking on it.

¡°Just go be you,¡± Kerkering said, when asked about Hoffman¡¯s advice. ¡°And just go have fun. He always told us, he changes everything he does. He doesn¡¯t do the same routine every single day. Whether he puts on his left shoe before his right shoe that day ¡­ he doesn¡¯t like the superstitions of [baseball]. Just keep being you because you¡¯re the reason why ¡­ we¡¯re all here for a reason, so just keep running with it.¡±

The Phillies have not used a traditional closer in recent years, although they have leaned in that direction for stretches: Craig Kimbrel (2023) and Carlos Est¨¦vez (2024).

If the season started today, new right-hander Jordan Romano could see early looks in the ninth inning. But so could Strahm and Kerkering.

¡°I think it¡¯ll be super fun,¡± Kerkering said. ¡°No pressure at all. It¡¯s the same three outs every time I go out there, or however many outs Topper [Rob Thomson] wants me to get. No matter what inning it is, I think they¡¯re all super important. I don¡¯t think it really matters too much.¡±

Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham recently explained on The Phillies Show why he thinks Kerkering can handle those moments.

¡°He¡¯s a good thinker,¡± Cotham said. ¡°He¡¯s what you want. I mean this in the best way, he¡¯s a little bit of a dirt bag. He likes the ball and he likes those sticky, hot situations. And he doesn¡¯t back down. He¡¯s a trash man. So I think he can do that role that Hoffman was obviously fantastic at.¡±

Could he see Kerkering as a closer in the future?

¡°For sure,¡± Cotham said. ¡°That¡¯s an easy yes for me. If we define closer like the ability to get the most important outs in a game, he¡¯s there.¡±

But there are ways to be even better in those spots. Kerkering said a focus this spring is his fastball. Specifically, throwing more two-seamers and locating them better.

He thinks it could be a game changer.

¡°Maybe it¡¯s like 25-25 [percent] between fastballs,¡± Kerkering said, with the other half being sliders. ¡°Split it a little bit more, and play off between righties and lefties a little bit more. Be able to locate left and right side of the plate a little better with it. Just keep growing off it. Last year, I don¡¯t want to say [the sinker] was a play-around pitch, but [it was an] experiment almost. See how it is. But this year it¡¯s take the next step into it.¡±

Hoffman was Strahm¡¯s catch partner the past two years. They played catch almost every day on the field before a game.

Maybe Kerkering steps into that spot, too?

¡°I¡¯m not sure,¡± Kerkering said, smiling. ¡°I think that¡¯s really up in the air right now. He¡¯s got to find the right guy for that. It almost feels like an audition. We¡¯ll see about that one.¡±