Orion Kerkering Might Not Be Ready For Opening Day
8 months agoPhiladelphia Phillies right-hander Orion Kerkering (illness) might not be ready for Opening Day on March 28, according to manager Rob Thomson. Kerkering hasn't pitched in the Grapefruit League since March 1 because of the flu, although he's scheduled to throw at the team's spring complex sometime this week. "He's 22 years old," Thomson said. "We're not going to push this thing." Kerkering has appeared in only two spring games and might need to open the year on the injured list in order to rebuild his strength. The former fifth-round pick in 2022 out of South Florida went from playing in Single-A in 2023 to pitching high-leverage innings in the majors in the postseason last fall. Kerkering has a nasty sinker/slider mix that can make him almost unhittable as a future closer candidate for the Phillies.
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki
Source: MLB.com - Todd Zolecki