Phillies get concerning update on Taijuan Walker injury
The Philadelphia Phillies got some unfortunate news on the Taijuan Walker injury on Wednesday night. He threw just 68 pitches and left the game with forearm tightness.
The Phillies say Walker left with right forearm tightness. Not good.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) April 27, 2023
Walker’s typical velocity and spin rate were mostly there on his fastball, sinker, cutter, splitter, and curveball, but he did not throw his cutter at all on Thursday night.
Manager Rob Thompson postured the pull from the game as merely precautionary, which seems good for now, but he will be re-evaluated today, Thursday.
Taijuan Walker being taken out was a precaution, Rob Thomson said. He’ll be reevaluated tomorrow, but no major injury concerns.
— Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) April 27, 2023
Walker gave up five earned runs on Wednesday night, the most of any game so far this season. Still, he struck six batters out in the appearance, two coming in the first inning on really quality pitches.
Taijuan Walker's 2 1st Inning Ks. pic.twitter.com/bNt8g78VC0
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 26, 2023
The Phillies have the seventh-worst team ERA in the majors right now, so losing a key piece of the rotation would be unideal at this juncture as they look to climb out from a season-starting slow spell.