Taijuan Walker is likely to open the season on the 15-day injured list after reporting a problem with his right shoulder Saturday. Walker was scheduled to run a bullpen session in the morning at BayCare Ballpark, but something went wrong while he was playing catch. The Phillies shut him down and sent him for testing.
“Anytime a guy has something like that late in the spring, you’re a little concerned,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said.
Thomson said Walker did not describe shoulder pain.
“He just said it didn’t feel right,” he said.
Walker entered the final week of camp already late due to missing time for personal reasons and right knee soreness. Now, he will miss his final spring start scheduled for Monday at Clearwater. Walker was hit hard Wednesday against Baltimore, allowing seven runs in 2 2/3 innings. He struggled to develop his speed throughout the spring, which may or may not be related to the shoulder.
“Maybe he was trying to get out of it,” Thomson said.
The Phillies will find out more on Sunday.
If Walker can’t pitch, Turnbull will take his place in the rotation. Walker was scheduled to pitch April 1 against the Reds.
“That’s why you have all the depth,” Thomson said.
The Phillies signed Turnbull to a $2 million contract in February because they knew they needed to improve their starting pitching depth. He arrived at camp last month as a candidate to become a long guy, although he could have started the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
The Phillies had expressed some interest earlier this year in free agent left-hander Jordan Montgomery on a one-year deal, but that interest cooled as camp began. It’s unclear whether Walker’s shoulder problem could change their thinking, although sources said earlier the club had always believed they would have to clear the wage bill to avoid crossing the third threshold luxury tax.
Turnbull was scheduled to pitch three innings out of the bullpen Saturday because the team was trying to get him used to pitching as a reliever. Turnbull has only appeared in relief once in 61 career games.
But once Walker went down, the Phillies changed their plans to have Turnbull ready to start.
It went well. Turnbull allowed three hits and struck out five in three scoreless innings of one game 6-6 tie with the Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. He threw 51 pitches (34 strikes).
Turnbull has put himself in a good position to make the team, especially with Orion Kerkering opening the season on the 15-day injured list after a lengthy illness absence earlier this month. That means the Phillies might need not only a replacement for Walker in the rotation, but three relievers as well.
“I haven’t heard anything officially from Topper, but I feel pretty good about my chances at this point,” Turnbull said. “I haven’t had an official conversation yet.”
Luis F. Ortiz (3.00 ERA, nine innings) and Yunior Marte (0.00 ERA, 8 2/3 innings) are strong candidates for two of the three available bullpen spots. Connor Brogdon (4.15 ERA, 8 2/3 innings) is a candidate. He allowed two runs in a single inning on Saturday. Brogdon is out of options, which is something to consider as the Phillies finalize the roster.
José Ruiz (0.90 ERA, 10 innings) pitched another scoreless inning on Saturday. Andrew Bellatti (5.87 ERA, 7 2/3 innings) allowed three runs while recording one out.
Neither Ruiz nor Bellatti are on the 40-man roster.
Harper is ready to ride
Bryce Harper said he was healthy after going 0-for-2 with an RBI in his first Grapefruit League game since March 14. He had been sidelined due to lower back pain. It will be ready for opening day.
Will Rojas make the team?
Johan Rojas beat a potential double grounder in the second to drive in a run. He had an infield single in the fourth. He then stole second, reached third on an error and scored. Rojas is hitting .176 with a .467 OPS this spring, but he has four hits in his last 16 at-bats (.250) with one walk and one strikeout.
Rojas was not informed if he was on the opening day roster. If he doesn’t, Cristian Pache and Jake Cave could both make it happen.
“We have to do the right thing with him, which is make sure we don’t bury him offensively at the big league level and then have to send him out there,” Thomson said of Rojas . “We have to be very, very confident that he’s going to perform, just keep his head above water, really.”
