Cheers for Taijuan Walker: Phillies fans, his teammates and mom applaud a meaningful start

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PHILADELPHIA — The noise followed Taijuan Walker from Florida’s Gulf Coast to Washington and, finally, here. He heard robust boos from Phillies fans in at least three ballparks before he ever threw a regular-season pitch in 2025. He’s a sixth starter making $18 million who slogged to a 7.10 ERA a year ago. He understands the territory.

“It’s not like he’s running from it,” Kyle Schwarber said.

This is why, inside the Phillies’ clubhouse, Walker is appreciated. To those around him, Walker is the consummate teammate — someone who went through personal hell in a very public way but was always there to support others. They felt Walker deserved the same treatment. So the boos bothered the Phillies. A bad outing? Sure, boos are expected. But players and coaches felt Walker merited some leeway to begin this season. He looked different when he came to camp. He had worked over the winter. But all of it was talk; Walker and these Phillies will be judged on results.

He had to prove it.

His 74th pitch on Thursday afternoon was an 85 mph slider that whiffed Colorado designated hitter Hunter Goodman. Walker, a level-headed guy, screamed. He said he didn’t see many of the people inside Citizens Bank Park stand to salute him. But he heard it during a 3-1 Phillies win.

“It’s tough to play here,” Walker said. “But when you’re doing well, and you’re winning, it’s the best fans to have.”

He tossed six scoreless innings, easily his best start in more than a year. He threw harder. He had multiple pitches, including that revamped slider, at his disposal. He was not perfect, and he did it against an inferior lineup. But this meant something. Everyone wearing powder blue uniforms felt it as Walker strode toward the dugout.

“Sick, man,” Aaron Nola said. “It was awesome. It kind of gave me chills.”

Taijuan Walker struck out four over six scoreless innings. He allowed three hits and one walk. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)

Walker asked his mom, Nellie Garcia, to be here for Thursday’s start. She raised him as a single mother. She is a cancer survivor. They knew the risks; Walker said Garcia cried last year when he was booed during a start.

This time, she was here for the cheers. Walker went into the clubhouse after his six innings and saw messages from friends.

And mom.

“She texted me a billion times,” Walker said. Just super proud, super happy. She said she was up there crying the whole time.”

One start is nice. Considering the circumstances, it was important to the whole operation. Walker isn’t running downhill yet. He will pitch next in Atlanta, a stiffer test. He at least has a little momentum.

Given how the Phillies constructed this club, Walker is no longer an integral part. They did not enter this season counting on Walker to make 30 starts. He’s in the rotation now because Ranger Suárez has a sore back. The Phillies expect Suárez to return before April ends. Then, Walker returns to the bullpen as one of the most expensive long men in baseball.

So be it.

“I get it,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “But people don’t see behind the clubhouse doors what he means to the club and the little things he does to help the team. So it meant a lot.”

“I don’t know how you could ever knock someone like that,” Schwarber said. “They come out, and they’re trying to get better, right? We’re not going out there trying to fail. And I think that’s just a really cool moment where he comes out and he does his thing.”

“Nobody likes to watch their teammates struggle,” catcher J.T. Realmuto said. “We’ve all been through struggles. Seeing him go out there and be himself today, that was a lot of fun.”

Kyle Schwarber hits a solo homer in the seventh inning. (Bill Streicher / Imagn Images)

Walker faced the minimum through three innings. He was efficient all game. His 11 swings-and-misses equaled his high from last season; he did it June 2, 2024, but on 93 pitches. Thursday, he relied less on his splitter and fastball because Realmuto liked the action on the cutter, slider and curveball.

Walker had options.

“We could attack guys differently in each at-bat,” Realmuto said.

Walker isn’t guaranteed much; Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski has said that since last October. The Phillies could have deemed Walker a sunk cost and released him, but they put him on a velocity training program in the offseason. They had to pay him regardless, so they might as well try. They traded for a pitcher (Jesús Luzardo) to replace Walker in the rotation. They expect Andrew Painter, their best pitching prospect in decades, to be a factor in the summer.

Suárez threw a 40-pitch bullpen earlier this week. “Velocity was good, came out of it fine,” Thomson said. Suárez could face hitters in a simulated session this weekend. After another one of those, he’d be headed toward a minor-league rehab assignment.

The Phillies continue to slow-play Painter. He stayed back at the club’s complex in Florida while every minor-league affiliate broke camp. Painter has been throwing live batting practices to farmhands in extended spring training. He will have another session Friday.

That, Thomson said, “will determine a lot of things.”

Painter could have another live batting practice next week; the Phillies have been simulating innings in these sessions so they can control the environment. The club has a plan for Painter it has not divulged, but the goal is to preserve as many “real” innings as possible for the final months of the season. Still, he will need to be tested through competition before reaching the majors. That should begin in earnest sometime this month with an assignment to an affiliate.

So it’s possible Walker won’t last the whole season on this roster. But, coming out of spring training, Thomson was resolute when he needed someone to replace Suárez. Was anyone else in consideration? “Not for me,” Thomson said. Walker had earned the right to make things right.

“It was a tough year last year,” Nola said. “We have tough years. Players have tough years, and he didn’t fold. He’s still working and competing out there. That’s what he does. That’s what he’s always done — compete. And it showed.”

Walker stood in the middle of the clubhouse and answered questions for more than five minutes. Afterward, he returned to a seat in the back of the room, next to Nola, and relaxed. He sipped on a beverage.

He could smile.

(Top photo of Taijuan Walker: Hunter Martin / Getty Images)

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