Phillies’ Triple A Affiliate Hosts Taijuan Walker’s Rehab Assignment: 30-Day Timeline and Catching Pairings for Starting Pitchers

Triple A Lehigh Valley will host Taijuan Walker’s rehab assignment on Thursday, marking the start of a 30-day timeline for his return to the majors. Walker has been recovering from a right shoulder impingement that limited his time during spring training. The Phillies plan to gradually build him back up with a series of starts, similar to a spring training schedule.

On Thursday, Walker is scheduled to throw 60 to 65 pitches over three innings, with the possibility of a fourth inning if he is efficient. Manager Rob Thomson noted that they will closely monitor his velocity, as it was lower than usual during spring training. The goal is to see his velocity increase as he progresses through the rehab assignment.

Spencer Turnbull will fill the final spot in the Phillies’ rotation, making his second start of the season on Monday night in St. Louis. Turnbull will be catching with Garrett Stubbs, as they aim to establish a familiar pairing on the field. Manager Rob Thomson mentioned that having Stubbs catch for Turnbull adds a level of consistency that can benefit the team. While J.T. Realmuto typically catches for the other starting pitchers, having Stubbs step in for selected games helps distribute the workload. Realmuto has been a key player for the Phillies, starting in eight of the team’s first nine games of the season. As the season progresses, having a solid catching rotation will be essential for maintaining the pitchers’ effectiveness