Greetings for Taijuan Walker: Phillies fans, his teammates and mom applaud a significant beginning

Filadelphia – The noise followed Taijuan Walker from the Florida Gulf Coast to Washington and finally here. He listened to crowded whistles of Phillies fans in at least three Ballpartks before launching a regular season shot in 2025. It is a sixth appetizer that earns $ 18 million who joined 7.10 was a year ago. Includes the territory.

“It’s not as he is running away,” said Kyle Schwarber.

That’s why, inside the Phillies Club House, Walker is appreciated. For those around him, Walker is the teammate consumed – someone who has crossed personal hell in a very public way but was always there to support others. They heard that Walker deserved the same treatment. So the whistles disturbed the Phillies. A bad exit? Of course, whistles are expected. But the players and coaches considered Walker he deserved a little room for maneuver to start this season. It seemed different when he arrived at the field. He had worked during the winter. But everything has been discussed; Walker and these Phillies will be judged on the results.

He had to prove it.

His shooting 74 ° Thursday afternoon was an 85 mph cursor who blown the hurry designated by Colorado Hunter Goodman. Walker, a level head boy, screamed. He said he hasn’t seen many of the people within Citizens Bank Park to greet him. But he heard him during a 3-1 Phillies win.

“It’s hard to play here,” said Walker. “But when you’re going well and you’re winning, it’s the best fans to have.”

He launched six inning without score, easily his best start in more than a year. He threw stronger. He had more shots, including that renewed cursor, at his disposal. It was not perfect and did it against a lower training. But this meant something. Everyone wore blue uniform powder felt him while Walker approached shelter.

“Sick, friend,” said Aaron Nola. “It was fantastic. He gave me chills.”

Taijuan Walker scored four in six inning without score. It allowed three shots and a walk. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)

Walker asked his mother, Nelie Garcia, to be here for the beginning of Thursday. He raised him as a single mother. It is a survivor to cancer. They knew the risks; Walker said Garcia cried last year when he was whistled during a start.

This time, it was here for the applause. Walker entered Clubhouse after his six inning and saw messages from friends.

And mom.

“He wrote me a billion times,” said Walker. “Just super proud, super happy. He said it was up there to cry all the time.”

A beginning is beautiful. Considering the circumstances, it was important for the entire operation. Walker still doesn’t run downhill. The next one will launch in Atlanta, a more rigid test. At least he has some momentum.

Given the way the Phillies built this club, Walker is no longer an integral part. They did not enter this season with the meter on Walker to do 30 departures. Now it is in rotation because the Ranger Suárez has a painful back. The Phillies expect Suárez will return before the end of April. Hence, Walker returns to Bullpen as one of the most expensive men of baseball.

So be it.

“I understand,” said the manager of Phillies Rob Thomson. “But people don’t see the doors of the Club House behind what he means for the club and the little things he does to help the team. So he meant a lot.”

“I don’t know how you could ever knock on someone like that,” Schwarber said. “They come out and are trying to improve, right? We are not going out there trying to fail. And I think it’s just a really interesting moment in which he comes out and does his things.”

“Nobody likes to look at their teammates to fight,” said Catcher Jt Realmuto. “We were all through struggles. Seeing him go out there and being himself today, it was very funny.”

Kyle Schwarber affects a solo humerus in the seventh inning. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)

Walker faced the minimum through three inning. All the game was efficient. His 11 swings and Miss have equal to his maximum last season; He did it on June 2, 2024, but on 93 shots. Thursday, he made less relying on his splitter and on the fast ball because in Realmuto he liked the action on cutter, slider and curveball.

Walker had options.

“We could attack the boys differently in each AT-BAT,” said Realmuto.

Walker is not very guaranteed; The president of the Phillies Dave Dombowski baseball operations has said that since last October. The Phillies could have believed Walker a clear and released cost, but they put it in a speed training program in offseason. They had to pay it regardless, so they could also try. They exchanged a pitcher (Jesús Luzardo) to replace Walker in the rotation. Andrew Painter expect, their best launching perspective for decades is a factor in the summer.

Suárez launched a 40 -throw bullpen at the beginning of this week. “The speed was good, it came out well,” said Thomson. Suárez could face the bathers in a simulated session this weekend. After the other one of those would have headed for a rehabilitation assignment of the minor League.

The Phillies continue to slow down the painter. He remained again in the club complex in Florida while every affiliate of the minor League broke the field. Painter has launched jokes live to the farmers in the extensive spring training. He will have another session on Friday.

This, Thomson said, “will determine many things.”

The painter may have another liver practice next week; The Phillies have simulated inning in these sessions so that they can control the environment. The club has a painter plan that has not disclosed, but the goal is to preserve as many “real” inning as possible for the last months of the season. However, it will have to be tested through the competition before reaching the majors. This should start seriously this month with an assignment to an affiliate.

So it is possible that Walker will not last the entire season in this list. But, leaving the spring training, Thomson was resolved when he needed someone to replace Suárez. Was anyone else considered? “Not for me,” said Thomson. Walker had gained the right to make things right.

“It was a difficult year last year,” said Nola. “We have difficult years. Players have difficult years and has not folded. He is still working and competing out there. This is what he does. It is what he has always done – they compete. And he has shown it.”

Walker remained in the middle of the Club House and answered questions for more than five minutes. Subsequently, he returned to a place on the back of the room, near Nola, and relaxed. A drink sipped.

He could smile.

(Taijuan Walker’s top photo: Hunter Martin / Getty Images)