Arrieta tosses 3 perfect innings in spring debut

FORT MYERS, Fla. -- Jake Arrieta made his spring debut with the Phillies on Sunday. It couldn’t have gone better.

The 2015 National League Cy Young Award winner retired all nine batters he faced in three perfect innings of work. He had command of all his pitches. He struck out four, got two groundouts and three flyouts in the Phillies’ 3-3 tie with the Twins.

It may have been Arrieta's first Grapefruit League start, but he was well prepared for his initial outing with extra live batting-practice sessions, and it showed. He threw 34 pitches and 22 for strikes.

"Well, it's a different progression than usual," Arrieta said. "And I like it a lot more, to be honest, because getting built up in the live BPs leading into my first outing today, got extended right out of the gate."

Arrieta's scheduled pitch count was at 50-55, but he didn’t need anywhere near that many to mow down the Twins one time through the order.

"I knew if I was efficient I was going to be able to get three up-downs, three innings and work on everything,” said Arrieta, who had his entire repertoire working on Sunday. “Be able to spin the breaking ball early in the count, get ahead with the fastballs, spin the breaking balls late in the count -- only thing I didn't get to do was work from the stretch. It's OK that didn't happen."

Everything was crisp out of Arrieta’s hand, and he worked seamlessly with newly acquired catcher J.T. Realmuto.

"Working with J.T. for the first time in a game situation, it's like we've been doing it for a long time," Arrieta said. "And that's what happens when you get pretty much a month to work together before you get into a game. Structure was different, but I think our guys are really going to benefit from the way we're doing it right now."

Arrieta said he had been built up with the new progression to the point that he felt like he had already thrown in three or more games.

"It's a good feeling to go out there," he said. "It's not like you're going to go three scoreless with no hits or anything every time. But being able to face a situation like that knowing you're probably going to have to work with guys on base, change your signs, working with guys on second, controlling the running game, and going into today, I was prepared and ready for that sort of stuff."

Arrieta also did not display ill effects from having had surgery on his left knee in January.

"Once I got it taken care of, I knew that I was going to be able to recover pretty quickly," Arrieta said. "I got a little too eager early on in the recovery, so I scaled it back a tad with just the amount of time and activity I was doing and how much I was on my feet. I allowed myself a little bit more time to recover and it paid off in the back end.

"Like right now, what is it, six, seven weeks out of surgery? It's kind of crazy to say that we're on that far out and I'm pretty much 100 percent," he said. "There's some range of motion that I will continue to regain just as time goes by. But as far as strength goes and stability, it's as close to 100 percent as I could ask for right now."

The 32-year-old signed with the Phillies as a free agent on March 12, 2018. He is two wins shy of 100 for his career.

Williams staying positive amid Harper trade

Phillies right fielder Nick Williams is perhaps the most affected by the signing of Bryce Harper. But the 25-year-old has his own career ahead of him, and right now he wants what is best for the team.

"We got him to make the team better," said Williams. "He’s an All-Star. He’s an unbelievable talent. It’s something I can’t control, so it’s something I’m not really worried about. I’m just trying to do the best I can at whatever position I’m in."

In two seasons with the Phillies, Williams has proven his abilities at the plate. He’s hit a solid .269 with 29 homers and 105 RBI in 223 games.

"No matter what role I’m in, I’m a hitter," Williams said. "I have to just stay positive and work hard."

He didn’t play right field until coming over from the Rangers organization in 2015 after being drafted in the second round by Texas. He’s played all three outfield positions.

With the addition of Harper comes the possibility that Williams could be traded by the Phillies at some point.

"If that happens, it does, I’ve been traded before," Williams said. "It’s not something I’m thinking about right now because I’m with the Phillies and I’m just trying to play for these group of guys in the locker room. But it’s a business. It’s not something I can control, either."

Up next

The Phillies are off on Monday and are back at it on Tuesday when they host the Cardinals in Clearwater for a 1:05 p.m. ET game. Right-hander Aaron Nola takes the mound for Philadelphia in his spring debut. The 25-year-old won 17 games for the Phillies last season with a 2.37 ERA in 33 starts. He will be opposed by Cardinals right-hander Jack Flaherty.