Clearwater is usually for tans and home runs, but right now, it feels like a very expensive waiting room.
If you were hoping for a smooth ride into the 2026 season, I’ve got some “check engine light” news for you. From the face of the franchise to the kids we’re banking on for the future, the injury bug is currently batting 1.000 against the Phils. Here is the gritty reality of who is down, who is throwing, and who has me pacing around my living room.
Aidan Miller: The Future is on Ice
This one hurts. Our top infield prospect, Aidan Miller, hasn’t swung a bat in two weeks because of “low back soreness.”
That’s a terrifying phrase for a young power hitter. Manager Rob Thomson dropped the bombshell that Miller actually hopped a flight back to Philly to see team doctors. You don’t send your prize 21-year-old home from sunny Florida just for a check-up unless there’s a real concern. At this rate, don’t expect to see him in the Opening Day lineup for the minors.
Is it just a “precautionary” move? Maybe. But backs are fickle, and we need this kid healthy if the “Next Gen” Phillies are going to actually happen.
Zack Wheeler: The $126 Million Question
We knew this was coming, but seeing it in writing still feels like a gut punch. Zack Wheeler is officially out for Opening Day.
After undergoing surgery for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome (TOS) last September, Wheeler is in the “slow and steady” phase. He finally threw a 30-pitch “up-and-down” bullpen session on Saturday.
- The Good News: He’s throwing.
- The Bad News: He hasn’t faced a live batter since mid-August of last year.
TOS is a notoriously tricky recovery for pitchers. If Wheels isn’t 100%, the top of our rotation looks a lot thinner than any of us want to admit. Can we win without him for a month? Sure. Do I want to? Absolutely not.
Orion Kerkering & The “Hammy” Headache
Orion Kerkering was supposed to be the high-octane spark in the pen, but a Grade 1 hamstring strain during a pre-camp bullpen session put him in the dugout.
Thankfully, he’s making progress. He threw his own up-and-down session this weekend and is graduated to live batting practice next. It’s a “mild” strain, but anyone who’s ever tried to pitch with a bad leg knows it’s like trying to throw a dart while standing on a banana peel.
Gabriel Rincones Jr.: Depth on a Diet
Then there’s Rincones. He’s got “soreness in both knees,” which is exactly what you don’t want to hear about an outfielder who needs to cover ground.
He smashed 18 homers in Triple-A last year, and with the Phillies’ outfield depth looking a little “meh” lately, we kind of need his bat available. Thomson says he won’t see Grapefruit League action until mid-March.
The Bottom Line
It’s early March. Panic is a choice. But man, seeing your ace and your top prospect both sidelined before the first pitch of the season is a tough pill to swallow. The Phillies are deep, but even the best rosters can only take so many hits before they start to bruise.
