2021 report card: Zach Eflin

Zach Eflin is one of my favorite players on the Phillies, but I understand if you don’t feel the same way. His career numbers look like those of a solid yet forgettable back-end starter, and his recurring knee problems are no small concern. Nevertheless, there’s a lot to love about Zach Eflin.

Eflin overcame his fair share of adversity — both personally and professionally — to become the baseball player he is today. His older sister passed away when she was just seven years old, and his parents’ marriage ended soon after. His father struggled to make ends meet while raising three children on his own. On the baseball diamond, Eflin has struggled with knee pain for most of his career. His…