It looks like the Philadelphia Phillies are close to getting their closer, Jhoan Duran, back from injury.
Jhoan Duran was one of the few players on the Philadelphia Phillies roster who actually got off to a solid start to the 2026 season. Unfortunately, that was put on ice on April 18 when the Phillies placed their closer on the injured list with a left oblique strain.
Oblique injuries can hold players out for months, but it doesn’t appear that’ll be the case for Duran, as Phillies skipper Don Mattingly gave an encouraging update on the reliever ahead of Monday’s game in Miami.
"He was basically cleared to be active today [Monday], as far as medical,” explained Philadelphia’s skipper.
The reason that Duran wasn’t activated on Monday was that he had a pretty intense bullpen session on Saturday, in which he reached 100 mph.
Mattingly continued that after “talking with Caleb and the pitching guys, they said anytime we would send the guy out, he had an inning like that, give us the intensity, they'll give him two days. And so that's what we’re doine.”
Mattingly said that, unless “anything weird happens,” the plan is for Duran to be added back onto the big-league roster on Tuesday.
Apr 1, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Jhoan Duran (59) reacts after pitching out of the tenth inning against the Washington Nationals at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn ImagesIt’s not entirely surprising that Duran is coming off the injured list almost 15 days to the date after he was placed on the injured list. Rob Thomson, who was manager of the Phillies at the time, said the Phillies didn’t believe or plan on this being a lengthy absence, and that’s exactly what came to fruition.
Hopefully, Duran can pick up right where he left off before suffering the injury. The Phillies' bullpen has struggled without their closer, but it’s very clear the group still needs some more depth and a lockdown arm in the ninth inning.
Philadelphia’s closer has appeared in seven games this season, logging a 1.35 ERA and a 0.75 WHIP. Duran’s advanced stats remain strong, too, as the reliever owns an average fastball velocity of 98.2 mph, a strikeout rate of 33.3 percent, and a whiff rate of 36.5 percent on the season.
With Duran expected to be activated on Tuesday, it’ll be interesting to see what the corresponding roster move will be to make that happen.
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