Walker 'playing catch-up' with fastball velo in first spring start

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Taijuan Walker’s fastball isn’t there yet.

It has been a topic of conversation this spring, as Walker’s velocity fluctuated so much last year that it partly explained why he never pitched in the postseason. The Phillies’ decision upset Walker, who liked a post on X after Game 7 of the NLCS that criticized manager Rob Thomson. Walker and Thomson have since cleared the air, and Walker showed up to camp last month refreshed and intent on finding a way to be a more consistent pitcher.

“Just stay strong all year, keep the velocity consistent,” Walker said during Saturday’s 13-5 loss to Toronto in a Grapefruit League game at BayCare Ballpark. “I think if that’s consistent, then my numbers will be pretty consistent.”

But Walker is behind schedule after missing time recently due to personal reasons and a balky knee that pushed back his first Grapefruit League start to Saturday. Walker allowed two hits, one run and one walk, striking out three in two innings. His four-seam fastball averaged 89.4 mph, compared to 92.9 mph in the regular season.

Did he expect his velocity to be in the high 80s on Saturday?

“Honestly, yeah,” Walker said. “Only because of my build-up. I really got only one live BP in, a couple of bullpen [sessions]. But, yeah, I mean, it’s expected. … I’m a little behind. I’m just playing catch-up a little bit.”

Added Thomson: “His velocity was 88-90, which is pretty typical for him this time of year.”

Based on small Spring Training sample sizes, Walker’s velocity is typically lower than in April and May.

So, the build continues.

“Do I think it’s realistic that he throws 99 [mph]?” Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotha said last month. “I can’t say that. But he went out at the [World Baseball Classic last March] and hit 96. It’s Spring Training, so it’s in there. And he had months last year where it was in there. It’s just raising the floor in a lot of ways. Can we sit 93-94 and have 96 when we need it, vs. maybe 90-92, maybe 93. Let’s raise the floor to recovering a little better, having the delivery be a little better. If you feel better, you throw harder. For him, it goes hand in hand with command and control. If you’re winning the counts, you can let it rip a little more potentially.”

Walker went 15-6 with a 4.38 ERA in 31 starts last season, but his inconsistencies were puzzling. His two fastballs (four-seam and sinker) averaged a combined 92.6 mph, but nobody knew what it would be from start to start. For example, Walker went from 92.3 mph on May 26 to 90.9 on June 1 to 94.3 mph on June 6.

The two fastballs averaged 93.4 mph from June 6 to July 25. They averaged 91.7 mph the rest of the season.

Asked if he came to camp more motivated or with a chip on his shoulder because of what happened in October, Walker said, “Like any other spring. Come in, get ready and just do my job. My job is go out there every fifth day and try to go as deep as possible every game and make all my starts. Obviously, you want to be as consistent as possible. Everything else is out of my control.”

The Phillies have said publicly and privately that they like their rotation with Zack Wheeler, Aaron Nola, Ranger Suárez, Cristopher Sánchez and Walker, but national reports continue to link the club to free-agent starters Blake Snell and Jordan Montgomery. It has Phillies fans wondering about the possibility. Even Bryce Harper wondered this week if the Phillies could sign one of them.

Sources have said repeatedly that neither signing is likely. The Phillies have expressed little interest in Snell, who has a qualifying offer attached to him. They have expressed some interest in Montgomery on a one- or two-year deal, but they would want to clear payroll for that, in order not to exceed the third luxury-tax threshold at $271 million.

Walker said the speculation about the rotation doesn’t bother him.

“I’ve been around the game a long time,” Walker said. “There’s always talk. There’s always chatter. But I think we have a really good rotation. I don’t see why we can’t have all five of us go 30-plus starts with 180-plus innings. We’re all capable of doing it. We’re all really good.”