Wheeler to throw first live BP; Kerkering, Miller inching toward returns
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CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Phillies ace Zack Wheeler is taking another step on Saturday in his return to the rotation.
He will throw his first live BP of the spring.
Wheeler threw his fifth bullpen session on Tuesday. It went well, at least as far as bullpens go.
“His sides, it looks like kind of midseason bullpen – the pitch shapes, how his delivery is working,” Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham said on Thursday at BayCare Ballpark. “The last bullpen was really good. He’s been very good. The stuff’s been good. The other day, he was kind of pitching in that 'pen. He just turned it up a notch. So he’s ready to face hitters. We’ll see how long it takes, but he’s closer. I didn’t really have an expectation, but he looks really good.”
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Phillies right-hander Orion Kerkering will throw his second live BP on Saturday, too. He has been sidelined this spring because of a strained right hamstring. Manager Rob Thomson said there is “possibly” enough time for Kerkering to be ready to make the Opening Day roster.
• The Phillies on Wednesday reassigned No. 1 prospect Aidan Miller to Minor League camp. He entered camp expecting to play shortstop and third base, but he never saw the field because of a recurring back injury.
Miller even flew to Philadelphia late last week to try to help.
“We’re not yet ready to do any kind of baseball activity, other than throw and get on the Trajekt,” Thomson said. “He’s not starting to run and lift. … He’s still feeling really good, so we’re making progress.”