Injuries & Moves: Updates on Walker, Turnbull
LATEST NEWS
July 20: LHP Ranger Suárez, RHP Zack Wheeler to start in Minnesota series
Manager Rob Thomson said that Suárez will start Monday and Wheeler will start Tuesday when the Phillies travel to face the Twins. Suárez, who has dealt with low back spasms since his start on July 12, threw a bullpen on Saturday at PNC Park that Thomson said went very well. Wheeler was delayed by back tightness since his last start on July 9.
July 20: C J.T. Realmuto reinstated from the 10-day IL, RHP Yunior Marte recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley; C Rafael Marchan, RHP Michael Mercado optioned to Triple-A
Realmuto went on the IL on June 10 and underwent right knee meniscectomy surgery on June 12. Marchán was the odd man out of the catching mix with Realmuto's return, but he impressed with a .294 average in 51 at-bats while Realmuto was out. More >>
Marte has a 3.31 ERA in 15 appearances for the Phillies this season. Mercado made two spot starts among his four appearances between June 24 and July 14 in the Majors, but with Ranger Suárez and Zack Wheeler likely to return in the next week and Tyler Phillips being given an opportunity as a starting pitcher, the Phillies’ rotation is fairly full. Manager Rob Thomson said Mercado will be a multi-inning reliever at Triple-A.
10-DAY/15-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Taijuan Walker (right index finger inflammation)
Expected return: August
Walker threw an up-and-down bullpen session on July 20 at PNC Park. Manager Rob Thomson said he expects Walker to throw another bullpen during the team's series against the Twins from July 22-24, then throwing batting practice once the Phillies return home later that week. He will eventually need at least a couple of rehab starts before he rejoins the rotation.
Walker, who began the season on the injured list with right shoulder soreness, has had difficulty locating his splitter this season -- an issue that Thomson said could stem from inflammation and a blister on Walker's right index finger. He was placed on the IL on June 23.
The location of the blister has made it difficult for Walker to grip his splitter, but it does not impact his ability to grip the fastball, so he has continued to throw while on the IL. That said, the length of the IL stint will depend entirely on his ability to regain that splitter grip without any discomfort and throw the pitch effectively. (Last updated: July 21)
RHP Spencer Turnbull (right lat strain)
Expected return: Late August
Turnbull started playing catch in Clearwater, Fla., on July 13, and manager Rob Thomson said he expects Turnbull to throw on flat ground from 120 feet some time during the week of July 22-28. If all goes well, he could progress to throwing a bullpen by as soon as the end of the week.
Turnbull made his return to the rotation on June 26, but he departed after just three innings after feeling a "little grab" on his penultimate pitch. He was diagnosed with a right lat strain and placed on the 15-day IL the following day.
"It's probably going to be six weeks, could be eight weeks," Thomson said at the time.
That would put Turnbull in line to return in mid-August, though he'd need a rehab stint to ramp back up at that point. (Last updated: July 21)
60-DAY INJURED LIST
RHP Michael Rucker (right hand arterial vasospasm)
Expected return: TBD
Though he's on the IL with a hand injury, Rucker was returned from his rehab assignment with Triple-A Lehigh Valley on July 7 due to turf toe on his right big toe. He restarted a rehab assignment on July 13 with the IronPigs. Rucker last pitched for the Phillies on March 1 and was moved to the 60-day injured list on June 3. (Last updated: July 14)
RHP Luis F. Ortiz (Tommy John surgery)
Expected return: Possibly 2025
Ortiz underwent Tommy John surgery on July 11 and will be sidelined for the rest of the 2024 season and most, if not all, of the '25 campaign.
Ortiz originally went on the IL because of a sprained left ankle he sustained on March 30. He had started to work his way back from that injury before the Phillies recalled him from his first rehab assignment in late April after he started to experience inflammation in his right shoulder. That had subsided enough for Ortiz to begin another rehab assignment on June 11, but his recovery was once again derailed when he began experiencing forearm discomfort before further testing revealed the need for surgery. Ortiz was transferred to the 60-day IL on July 5. (Last updated: July 11)
RHP Dylan Covey (right shoulder strain)
Expected return: TBD
Covey had started to play catch but he tweaked a hamstring while rehabbing. He is back in Clearwater, Fla., where he is shut down for the time being. Covey has not pitched since his final Grapefruit League appearance on March 1. He was transferred to the 60-day IL on June 1. (Last updated: June 1)
RHP Andrew Painter (Tommy John surgery; *No. 1 on Phillies Top 30 Prospects list*)
Expected return: 2025
Painter underwent Tommy John surgery in late July 2023, and he is not expected to pitch again until the 2025 season. The right-hander remains the No. 19 overall prospect -- and No. 4-ranked pitcher -- in baseball, per MLB Pipeline. Painter will still be just 21 years old on Opening Day next year. (Last updated: May 18)