The offseason saw the departure of Craig Kimbrel, last year’s closer for the Philadelphia Phillies, who signed with the Baltimore Orioles. Despite concerns surrounding their bullpen, the front office showed minimal interest in adding new talent, opting not to make any moves despite the availability of high-profile players.
Much of their confidence stemmed from Orion Kerkering, a 23-year-old pitcher who swiftly ascended through the Phillies’ ranks, starting his season in Single-A and culminating with appearances in the Majors, including three regular-season games and seven playoff appearances. Ranked as the team’s No. 6 prospect, Kerkering was considered a vital component of their bullpen for the 2024 season, with expectations for him to feature prominently in the Opening Day roster and eventually assume the closer role vacated by Kimbrel.
However, setbacks arose during Spring Training as Kerkering fell ill, resulting in a significant delay in his training regimen, eventually landing him on the 15-day injured list due to a forearm strain. Consequently, the Phillies had to assign him to the minors to rebuild his arm strength before considering his return to the Major League level.
The absence of Kerkering has been felt keenly by the Phillies, as evidenced by their bullpen’s struggles, ranking 26th in the MLB with an ERA of 5.73, along with two losses and three blown save opportunities in their first 10 games of the season.
Fortunately, there’s optimism surrounding Kerkering’s imminent return. Insider Luke Arcaini reports that the young pitcher is scheduled to participate in rehab games on Tuesday and Thursday, with expectations of rejoining the Phillies’ roster over the weekend, provided he experiences no setbacks. While already eligible to come off the 15-day injured list, the team is taking precautions to ensure Kerkering is fully prepared, using these rehab outings to assess his readiness and performance.
With Kerkering’s impending return, the Phillies are hopeful for a turnaround in their bullpen’s fortunes after a lackluster start to the season.
