The Philadelphia Phillies will start the 2025 season without All-Star left-hander Ranger Suárez, as manager Rob Thomson confirmed on Sunday that Suárez will likely begin the year on the 15-day injured list due to a persistent back issue.
Thomson, speaking to MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, emphasized the team’s desire to prevent the injury from becoming a long-term problem. While an official injured list designation is pending, Thomson expressed optimism that Suárez’s absence would be brief.
Suárez has not pitched since March 15 but recently resumed light throwing. Given his history of back problems—including one that disrupted a potential Cy Young Award bid in 2024—the Phillies are being cautious. Last season, Suárez’s performance significantly declined after the All-Star break, with his ERA rising from 2.76 to 5.65. The team hopes that allowing him time to fully heal now will prevent similar struggles later in the season.
By backdating his stint on the injured list and utilizing three off-days within the season’s first 12 days, the Phillies expect Suárez to miss only one start. If all goes well, he could return as soon as April 8, when the Phillies face the Atlanta Braves.
In Suárez’s absence, right-hander Taijuan Walker will step into the starting rotation. Walker aims to bounce back from a rough 2024 season, during which he struggled with a 7.10 ERA over 83 2/3 innings. This spring, however, Walker has shown encouraging progress. He has increased the velocity of his four-seam fastball by more than three miles per hour and made adjustments to his splitter.
The Phillies are hopeful that these improvements will allow Walker to fill the gap effectively until Suárez returns. By managing Suárez’s workload early, the team is aiming to keep him healthy and productive throughout the 2025 season.
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