CLEARWATER, Fla. — Aaron Nola will take the mound Thursday as the youngest Phillies starter on opening day in 54 years. He has the potential to be one of baseball’s elite young arms. His manager compared him to Zack Greinke and his pitching coach said he’s always in control.
Nola’s path to Atlanta, to the front of the Phillies’ starting rotation, was so rapid, following a 30-game sprint through the minor leagues and a quick assimilation to the majors. It is safe to assume that none of it would have been possible without a day of experimentation on a back field of an anonymous baseball complex on the east coast of Florida.