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Phillies' Rob Thomson Sends Strong Message to Taijuan Walker After Latest News

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Jon Conahan | Last updated Jun 2, 2025 1:32 PM ET

While Taijuan Walker hasn't been the arm the Philadelphia Phillies were hoping for him to be when they landed him entering the 2023 campaign, the right-hander has been better this season, throwing to the likes of a 3.53 ERA.

Walker has struggled a bit over his last three outings, allowing nine earned runs in that span. However, his 3.53 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 43.1 innings are much better than he's given them in the past two years.

But the Phillies had a decision to make, and the easiest one was to send him to the bullpen. Walker, a veteran, was likely a bit upset about this situation.

When speaking to reporters, it sounds like the Phillies understand that.

“Yeah, I think so,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said, per The Athletic. “I have a lot of confidence in all those guys. But I think Tai’s got a chance to make us a lot better coming out of the pen.”

This was certainly a tough decision for the 32-year-old to hear, but at the end of the day, that's what the Phillies needed, and it's what he'll do.

Thomson loves him, adding that he's a professional through and through, something that isn't often seen around Major League Baseball.

“He’s a pro,” Thomson said. “He really is. I’m sure he’s not 100 percent happy. I think he still thinks of himself as a starter. But he’s a pro. And I think that he’s a guy that’ll do anything to help the team.”

For now, the Phillies need him to throw in the bullpen. Perhaps if there are injuries along the way, things might change.

However, his job will be to get outs later in games, something that's just as important as starting ball games when it matters most.

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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