Back to the Philadelphia Phillies Newsfeed

Taijuan Walker working on warming up: ‘How fast can I get ready?’

Related Topics: Taijuan Walker, Joe Ross

PHILADELPHIA — For 13 big-league seasons, Taijuan Walker knew when he’d be on the mound, and he’d have all day to anticipate that first pitch of the game. These days, it’s a little more unpredictable.

A veteran with 217 starts under his belt, Walker has taken on a one-inning relief role for the first time in his career as the starter-heavy Phillies look to address their bullpen depth in the aftermath of José Alvarado’s 80-game suspension. He’s still working on how to best prepare for each outing in this new job.

“The biggest thing is: How fast can I get ready?