PHILADELPHIA — A day after allowing 17 runs, the Phillies rearranged their rotation and bullpen Sunday morning as they attempt to solve some festering pitching problems from within.
The Phillies will shift Taijuan Walker to a one-inning setup role for the first time in his 13-year career while reinserting prospect Mick Abel into the rotation. Additionally, they removed veteran righty José Ruiz from the mix by designating him for assignment and added hard-throwing Seth Johnson to the bullpen.
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There could be a time for larger changes closer to the July 31 trade deadline. But, for now, the Phillies will pull some internal levers and see what happens.
More than anything, the bullpen needed a boost.
“Yeah, I think so,” Phillies manager Rob Thomson said. “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.”
Abel, 23, impressed the Phillies with his stellar big-league debut last month. He’ll have at least two starts in the majors — Thursday at the Toronto Blue Jays, then at home against the Chicago Cubs — while Aaron Nola continues his recovery from a sprained right ankle. The Phillies expect him back sometime in mid-June.
Whenever Walker has pitched from the bullpen, he’s been a long man. The Phillies envision him filling a more crucial role this time. They were intrigued by his two bullpen appearances in early May before he had to step back into the rotation to replace Nola. It will require significant adjustments, as Walker is used to a set routine. He’s never pitched on back-to-back days.
He’ll have to be eased into this role. Whether it works — Walker has never been a guy with huge swing-and-miss stuff — remains to be seen.
“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.”
Walker sounded willing to make the move after his last start.
“If I have one inning to blow it out, whatever it is, I feel like my stuff would play up just a little bit more,” Walker said last week. “Knowing that I got one inning, just let it eat.”
Ruiz, 30, spent 13 months with the Phillies after joining them on a minor-league contract in November 2023. He was a solid middle reliever in 2024 who gained more trust later in the season but struggled in higher-leverage spots. The Phillies tendered him a contract through salary arbitration; Ruiz is making $1.23 million in 2025. He had an 8.16 ERA in 14 1/3 innings this season with 21 hits allowed. If he clears waivers, Ruiz can refuse an assignment to the minors, elect free agency and retain his salary.
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The Phillies could have demoted Max Lazar or plucked Carlos Hernández from the roster. But Ruiz has not been effective for months; Hernández throws harder, so the Phillies will keep trying Hernández over Ruiz.
“All the other guys are just pitching a little bit better,” Thomson said. “That’s all.”
(Photo: Justin Edmonds / Getty Images)
