March 24: Walker told reporters (including ) this afternoon that he was diagnosed with a shoulder impingement. Hell begin the season on the injured list, though he added that rest is the only treatment required and that he hopes his stay on the shelf will be a short one. March 23: Phillies right-hander was scratched from his recent spring start due to shoulder stiffne s, manager Rob Thomson told reporters today (including ). Gelb notes that right-hander figures to open the season in the clubs rotation if Walker begins the season on the injured list. Walker Bryan Trottier Jersey isnt the only Phillies pitcher dealing with injury troubles, as adds that right-hander is will begin the season on the injured list after mi sing time this spring due to illne s. The twin injury updates are tough news for Phillies fans. Walker was a solid back-of-the-rotation starter for the club last year with a roughly league average 4.38 ERA and 4.53 FIP, though he was durable enough to make 31 starts for the club last year and post 172 2/3 innings of work. Now, it seems likely that Walker will mi s at least the first few weeks of the regular season, though its difficult to say how severe his injury is barring further updates from the Phillies. Taking Walkers place in the rotation should he begin the season on the shelf figures to be Turnbull, a former second-round pick who spent four years as a mid-to-back of the rotation starter with the Tigers. From his big league debut through the 2021 season, Turnbull posted a solid 4.25 ERA with an even strong 3.63 FIP. He was limited to just 54 appearances acro s those four seasons by injuries, however, including Tommy John surgery which limited him to nine starts in 2021 and sidelined him for the entire 2022 season. Injury woes persisted through his return to the mound in 2023, as Turnbull struggled to a 7.26 ERA and 5.55 FIP acro s seven starts in the big leagues while battling neck and foot i sues that caused a dispute regarding service time between Turnbull and the Tigers. Detroit eventually non-tendered Turnbull, at which point he signed with the Phillies on a big league deal. Turnbull appeared poised to begin the season as a long relief option out of the clubs bullpen, though hes spent most of his career as a starter to this point and should have minimal trouble adjusting to the change in plans. As for Kerkering, the soon-to-be 23-year-old right-hander made his major league debut last season, allowing one run in three innings of work while striking out six of the fourteen batters he faced. That impre sive cup of coffee earned Kerkering a role on the postseason roster in Philadelphia. He pitched 5 1/3 innings of work during the postseason against the Marlins, Braves, and Diamondbacks, putting together a 3.38 ERA while striking out five and walking three. Despite his minimal big league experience, Kerkering nonethele s had long been expected to be part of the clubs bullpen mix on Opening Day. That wont come to fruition, however, as Kerkering will spend at least the first few weeks of the season on the shelf as he continues to prepare for the 2024 season. Kerkerings absence, along with Turnbulls likely move from the bullpen to the rotation, creates some level of uncertainty in the Philly bullpen. The Phillies right-hander from the Rays earlier today, and he could join the likes of , , , and as po sible options for the two bullpen spots previously expected to go to Kerkering and Turnbull. Note: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that Walker had been sent for an MRI on his shoulder. MLBTR regrets the error. Phil Bourque Jersey