Phillies Injury Updates: Taijuan Walker could return sooner than expected

The Latest Phillies Injury Updates

• Taijuan Walker (right shoulder impingement)
• Status: 15-day injured list
• Walker made his second rehab appearance on Tuesday, throwing 78 pitches for the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs over 4 2/3 innings. Though he only struck out one batter, the Phillies are encouraged with how the 31-year-old came out of his rehab outing, in which he allowed three hits and one run.
• Walker will throw a bullpen session Friday, and the Phillies will make a decision on how to proceed with the veteran righty. While it initially appeared he would make as many as four rehab appearances, activating Walker if the bullpen session goes well is on the table. Walker feels “really, really good,” per manager Rob Thomson.
• The Phillies haven’t decided whether they’ll go to a six-man rotation temporarily when Walker returns, or if Spencer Turnbull — who has a 1.80 ERA through his first three starts, but innings concerns — will go to the bullpen as the long man. — (Updated by Tim Kelly on April 17)

• Luis Ortiz (left ankle sprain)
• Status: 15-day injured list
• Ortiz will throw a live batting practice session in Clearwater on Tuesday, per Thomson. The right-handed reliever threw a bullpen on Saturday. He sprained his ankle while trying to field a chopper on the mound in a March 30 game against the Braves. — (Updated by Ty Daubert on April 15)

• Dylan Covey (right shoulder strain)
• Status: 15-day injured list
• Covey, the Phillies’ long man, has started to play long toss, according to Thomson. — (Updated by Ty Daubert on April 15)

• Michael Rucker (right hand arterial vasospasm)
• Status: 15-day injured list
• Rucker has began to play catch. It’s unclear when he’ll get back on the mound. — (Updated by Ty Daubert)

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