Camp notes: Luzardo’s impression, injury updates and starters for first Grapefruit League games
CLEARWATER, Fla. — The Phillies are slowly ramping up, with live batting practice sessions continuing Wednesday at BayCare Ballpark.
Aaron Nola, Jesús Luzardo, and Andrew Painter all threw to hitters. The opposing hitters mostly consisted of non-roster invitees, with Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas being the only exceptions. The bigger names, Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber, all participated in live BP on Tuesday and mostly stayed indoors on Wednesday. Marsh jumped on a first pitch against Nola for a base hit and struck out on four pitches against Luzardo. Justin Crawford fouled off multiple pitches against Nola.
All pitches were called using the automated ball-strike zone. The league will be implementing the ABS challenge system in the majors beginning this year.
All three pitchers had good command, according to manager Rob Thomson.
“I’m watching these BPs,” Thomson said. “The first time these guys see hitters, they haven’t seen hitters in like five months. Typically, I think it’s probably about 60-65%, the first hitter they see, they walk. It’s fascinating to me. These three guys, they were good. They went right after it.”
It’s early, but Luzardo’s stuff has stood out in bullpen sessions. He is working on a split changeup.
The Phillies saw the best version of Luzardo at the end of the season. He had a 2.15 ERA in his first 11 starts, but hit a major roadblock, allowing 20 earned runs in two starts combined against the Milwaukee Brewers and Toronto Blue Jays.
His September finish included seven perfect innings after giving up a four spot in the first inning against the New York Mets and seven shutout innings in his final start against the Miami Marlins. Thomson gave Luzardo the start in Game 2 of the National League Division Series against the Dodgers. He pitched well, giving up two earned runs in six innings in a loss. He gave the Phillies a chance in Game 4 in Los Angeles, getting five outs as a reliever in a heartbreaking loss in 11 innings.
He is a free agent after the 2026 season. He has looked like a star at times. He has also been humbled by failure. But if Luzardo can build on his impressive first season with the Phillies, he should in for a huge payday next offseason.
Camp Notes
- Orion Kerkering (right hamstring) threw off the mound for the first time since the start of spring training. He threw 10 pitches.
- Zack Wheeler (TOS) played catch from 120 feet and threw a bullpen session on flat ground. The Phillies are not sure when he will begin throwing off the mound.
- Non-roster invitee Bryse Wilson will start Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Blue Jays in Dunedin. They will have a bullpen game on Sunday for the home opener in Clearwater against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Alan Rangel will start on Monday against the Nationals on the other side of the state in West Palm Beach. Taijuan Walker will start Thursday’s game against the Nationals in Clearwater.
- The team’s annual spring training golf tournament is today in Clearwater.