Thomson also had an update on when Brandon Marsh could make his Grapefruit League debut.
Taijuan Walker’s velocity was lower than usual in his first spring start. Here’s why he and Rob Thomson aren’t worried.Mar. 9, 2024, 5:47 p.m. ET
The right-hander averaged 89.4 mph on his four-seam fastball and 89.2 mph on his sinker. His hardest pitch of the day clocked in at 90.3 mph. Walker’s velocity was a point of focus last season, so it garnered some attention on Saturday. But he and Phillies manager Rob Thomson say the dip is because of his unusual build-up this spring.Said Thomson: “Yeah, is all it is. And that’s typically how he is. When he starts his spring trainings his velocity is usually down, and he builds up from there.
Walker said in mid-February that it’s possible the velocity dip last year was because of weight loss. He pitched at 235-240 pounds in 2023 and 255-260 pounds in previous seasons. He added strength in the offseason to get back to his normal weight, in the hopes of seeing an uptick in velocity.Regardless of the reason, maintaining consistent velocity will be a goal of his in 2024. He said he wants to be 94-95 mph in the first inning of a regular-season game.
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