Evan Phillips watched from the entrance row because the Dodgers secured their World Sequence victory over the Yankees final October, however he by no means acquired the possibility to step on the sector. A shoulder harm stored him off the roster, making the expertise even harder to course of. The frustration of figuring out he might have been on the market weighed on him, and he struggled to deal with it at dwelling.
Phillips’ harm was extra extreme than the Dodgers initially indicated and can possible drive him onto the injured listing initially of the 2025 season.
Evan Phillips not enjoying within the World Sequence
The Dodgers reliever tore his subscapularis throughout the NLCS, damaging the biggest muscle within the rotator cuff.
The 30-year-old recorded a team-high 18 saves for the Dodgers final season and delivered 6⅔ scoreless innings throughout 5 outings of their NLDS and NLCS wins.
Phillips admitted he struggled to recuperate after Recreation 6 of the NLCS, realizing one thing felt off. After taking Monday to relaxation, he returned on Tuesday feeling extra assured, however his throwing session didn’t go as deliberate.
The next day, whereas the Dodgers equipped for the World Sequence in opposition to the Yankees, Phillips underwent an MRI that confirmed the tear. He acquired a cortisone injection in an try to hurry up the therapeutic course of and make a return for the collection, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient. As an alternative, he watched from the sidelines because the crew performed its largest video games of the yr.
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“Might I’ve gone on the market and thrown the ball? Perhaps. However I needed to verify if I used to be pitching, I used to be able to assist the crew and I simply wasn’t there,” Phillips remarked by way of an interview from The Orange County Register’s Invoice Plunkett.
Phillips defined that assessments on his shoulder didn’t reveal sufficient harm to warrant surgical procedure, however he did obtain a platelet-rich plasma injection after the crew returned from New York. A follow-up MRI in December indicated progress, although some harm remained.
Phillips lacking Opening Day this season for the Dodgers
Due to this, his December throwing program consisted solely of medication balls and lightweight plyometric work. He didn’t begin throwing a baseball till January 1 and has solely superior to lengthy toss as camp begins this week. That delay places him not on time for Opening Day and makes it extremely unlikely he’ll be prepared for the Tokyo video games on March 18 and 19.
Phillips completed final season with a 3.62 ERA and a 1.19 WHIP over 54 2/3 innings. He recorded 63 strikeouts, 18 saves, and restricted laborious contact to 32.7 p.c whereas posting a 3.29 xERA.
With the bullpen bolstered by offseason additions like Tanner Scott, an in depth pal of Phillips, and Kirby Yates, the Dodgers don’t have any must fast-track his restoration. Whereas Phillips acknowledges this, he stays targeted on progressing day-to-day.