Taijuan Walker’s time with the Philadelphia Phillies has not lived up to expectations. Signed to a four-year, $72 million contract before the 2023 season, the Phillies brought Walker in as a dependable veteran to solidify the back end of their rotation. After earning an All-Star nod in 2021 and finishing the 2022 season with a solid 3.49 ERA in 29 starts for the New York Mets, the team had high hopes for his performance.
In his first season with Philadelphia, Walker started 31 games and pitched 172 2/3 innings, ending the year with a 4.38 ERA. However, a rocky second half led to him being excluded from the postseason roster. Things got worse in 2024. Plagued by shoulder and finger issues, Walker struggled significantly and was moved to the bullpen midseason. He ended the year with a disappointing 7.10 ERA across 19 appearances, including 15 starts.
Recognizing the need for improvement, the Phillies placed Walker on a tailored offseason training program designed to boost his velocity. Although his fastball did show improvement, his final two spring training outings were underwhelming, and his spot on the 2025 roster was not guaranteed.
Nonetheless, injuries to other pitchers—most notably Ranger Suárez’s back problems—led the Phillies to keep Walker on the roster and return him to the starting rotation. Despite his recent struggles, Walker was given a chance. At the team’s home opener, however, fans made their displeasure known, booing him during player introductions.
Everything changed on Thursday when Walker took the mound against the Colorado Rockies. He delivered an impressive performance, pitching six shutout innings, allowing just three hits, walking one, and striking out four. The crowd that had booed him earlier in the week gave him a standing ovation as he left the game.
His performance brought tears of joy to his mother, Nellie Garcia, who had been deeply affected by the negative reactions Walker received the year before. “She said she was crying the whole time,” Walker shared with The Athletic, noting her pride and relief.
While it remains uncertain how long Walker will stay in the rotation with Suárez expected to return soon, his dominant outing offered a much-needed moment of redemption—for both him and the fans.
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