Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering could miss the start of the regular season.
Kerkering, the 22-year-old right-hander, has been set back by the flu, manager Rob Thomson told reporters — including MLB.com‘s Todd Zolecki — on Monday. He hasn’t pitched since March 1, possibly preventing him from being ready for the season opener on March 28.
Kerkering is set to return to pitching in Clearwater this week.
Starting the 2023 season in Low-A Clearwater, Kerkering ascended through Philadelphia’s minor-league system to finish his first full year as a professional in the bigs. With a power fastball and slider in his arsenal, he made his major-league debut last September, making three scoreless one-inning appearances and striking out six batters to end the regular season.
As the Phillies headed into the postseason, Kerkering made the bullpen for the National League Wild Card Series against Miami and threw a scoreless inning. He followed it up with two more shutout innings against the Braves in the NL Division Series.
But for as quickly the young righty earned big-time trust from Thomson in the playoffs, it all fell apart in the NL Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He did start the series by finishing out a 10-0 blowout Game 2 victory, but he blew a lead without getting an out in a Game 3 loss, walked two and only recorded one out in a Game 4 loss and allowed another run as the Phillies lost Game 6. Pitching deeper into a season than he ever had, Kerkering lost the command and the zip that allowed him to soar in his first handful of outings.
Heading into 2024, he still appeared to be a lock to open the year in the Phillies bullpen with his talent and upside. But after catching the flu, his arm might not be ramped up in time for Opening Day, leaving room for a potential stint on the injured list to start the season.
Right-hander Connor Brogdon, who’s pitched big innings for the Phillies in the past but spent most of last season in Triple-A, could be one option to take Kerkering’s spot on the roster to start the year if he isn’t ready to go. Brogdon is out of minor-league options.
Whatever the case, it doesn’t appear that there is long-term concern for Kerkering and his health as he recovers from illness and prepares his arm for the season. The Phillies may simply choose to operate with caution with a pitcher they expect big things from in the future.
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