Aaron Nola, a prominent pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to a right ankle sprain, marking the first time he will miss pitching time because of injury since 2017. The announcement was made on Friday, with Nola having a previous incident in 2021 when he spent 10 days on the COVID-19 list but managed to maintain a continuous pitching presence otherwise.
The injury occurred during agility exercises in Tampa last Thursday, prior to his scheduled start against Cleveland. Although he attempted to pitch through the discomfort, the team opted to take precautionary measures as the sprain persisted, leading to Nola’s placement on the injured list. He currently holds a 1-7 record with a 6.16 ERA this season, including a particularly challenging outing against the St. Louis Cardinals where he allowed a career-high 12 hits and nine earned runs, a performance he acknowledged was impacted by his ankle.
“It’s definitely not been comfortable,” Nola stated, reflecting on his struggles while pitching. The Phillies management expressed concern that Nola may overcompensate for the injury, which could lead to further issues.
In Nola’s absence, top prospect Mick Abel will make his major league debut with a spot start on Sunday. Abel, who has shown impressive improvement this season, boasts a 2.53 ERA with 51 strikeouts across eight starts for the IronPigs and was previously recognized as the Phillies minor league pitcher of the month for April. Abel’s confidence has been a key asset, with Phillies manager Rob Thomson excited to see him step onto the major league stage.
Additionally, the organization is facing another setback as right-hander Moisés Chace, ranked as the Phillies’ No. 5 prospect, is set to undergo Tommy John surgery after encountering velocity issues during recent starts.
Turning to positive news within the organization, Andrew Painter recently earned his first victory in triple-A while also showcasing promising skills that may soon translate to major league performance. His development, alongside that of young talents like Abel and Crawford, suggests a bright future ahead for the Phillies.
These developments indicate a mixture of challenges and opportunities for the team, with young prospects stepping up during a time of need.