Taijuan Walker had an impressive spring debut with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Taijuan Walker could play a key role with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2026. His best role is likely as a depth arm out of the bullpen with a spot start here and there, but the Phillies will likely need Walker to start the year in the rotation as Zack Wheeler still rehabs his way back from major shoulder surgery.
Walker made his first start of the spring on Thursday, and all in all, there was a lot to like about the right-hander’s 2026 Grapefruit League debut.
Walker threw 29 pitches over 2.0 innings, giving up three hits and striking out one.
The biggest standout from this outing was Walker's strong command. The right-hander issued no walks, and 64 percent of his pitches logged for strikes in the outing; not bad for it being his first live-game action of the year.
After the game, Walker said he felt “really good” and “focused” throughout the outing.
The box score only means so much, though, at this point in spring training action. Walker admitted after the start that he was trying to keep his arsenal simple this early on in spring training.
Apr 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Taijuan Walker (99) reacts after allowing a home run during the second inning against the San Francisco Giants at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn ImagesHis focus on Thursday was mainly on “a lot of sliders and a lot of curveballs today. No splitters and cutters.”
Spring Training is a time to ramp up for the regular season, but it’s also an opportunity for pitchers to try out new things in game action, without having it affect their overall stats. That’s exactly what Walker did on Thursday with his slider.
Walker noted that he’s “Been trying to work on a slider and felt really good with it today. I thought the shapes were really good. Swings and misses, and weak contact with it.”
Walker ultimately threw the slider 11 times, generating three whiffs on six swings; not bad for having this pitch be a main focus. He only had a strikeout rate of 16 percent a year ago, so perhaps incorporating more sliders into his arsenal could help his punchout numbers increase next season.
At this point, it's about building off Walker's start, incorporating a few more pitches, and being ready for whatever role the Phillies ask of him in 2026.
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