Taijuan Walker is set to make his first spring appearance of 2024 on Saturday.
The Phillies’ right-hander had been delayed this Spring Training due to right knee soreness, but the 31-year-old will start against the Blue Jays at BayCare Ballpark. He’s slated to throw two innings.
Despite the injury this spring, Walker — who signed a four-year, $72 million deal in Philadelphia before last season — has been a durable starting pitcher in recent years. He racked up 15 wins with a 4.48 ERA across 172 ⅔ innings in 31 starts in 2023 and eclipsed the 150-inning mark in both of the previous two seasons as well.
While some early-start struggles and the emergence of left-handed Cristopher Sánchez ultimately kept the Phillies from deploying him in the postseason, Walker was still a valuable member of the rotation last year and will continue to be as its No. 4 in 2024. Philadelphia will need the bulk he provides throughout the regular season, and his return to action from injury is a positive sign for both Walker and the club.
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