A Stellar Spring Début
CLEARWATER, Fla. — In a beautiful afternoon at BayCare Ballpark, the Philadelphia Phillies’ top offseason acquisition, Jesus Luzardo, made an impressive return to the mound with a dominant performance against the Boston Red Sox. Luzardo, who had been sidelined since last June 16 due to a stress reaction in his lower back, was a picture of health and confidence. He retired all six batters he faced over two scoreless innings, throwing 19 pitches, 14 for strikes, and inducing six swings-and-misses. His fastball clocked in at 96, 97, and 97 mph on his first three pitches, and he even touched 98 mph with his sinker in the first inning. This performance is a promising sign that Luzardo is back and firing on all cylinders.
The Road to Recovery
Luzardo’s journey to this point has been marked by significant challenges. The stress reaction in his lower back was a debilitating injury that affected even the most mundane tasks, such as brushing his teeth and tying his shoes. The condition was caused by a vertebra on his spine becoming irritated due to constant stress and rotation. At its worst, the injury left him unable to rotate properly, forcing him to take three months off to rest and recover. Despite the setbacks, Luzardo’s resilience and dedication to his recovery have paid off. “It’s not forced, it’s not over-exerting myself, it’s more free and easy working down the mound,” he said. “The arm just feels alive again.”
A Versatile Pitcher
Luzardo’s repertoire is as varied as it is effective. His fastball, which he leans on the most, was up in velocity during his spring debut, a clear indicator of his improved health. However, his game-changer is his changeup, a pitch that has held opposing hitters below .200 in two of the last three seasons. He also has a slider that he refers to as his “bread and butter,” and this spring, he has been experimenting with a second, more sweeping slider. When asked about his best pitch, Luzardo emphasized the synergy between his pitches: “I think it’s the way stuff plays off each other. It goes day to day. My fastball is the pitch I lean on the most but there’s days that the slider feels amazing, there’s days that the changeup feels amazing. I’m thankful that every time out there I have multiple options to use.”
Trade and Team Dynamics
The trade that brought Luzardo to the Phillies was a strategic move by the front office. The Marlins, in the midst of a rebuilding phase, made the left-hander available, and the Phillies pounced, trading 19-year-old shortstop Starlyn Caba, ranked as their No. 4 prospect by MLB.com, and Single A outfielder Emaarion Boyd. It was a fitting debut for Luzardo, who faced off against Red Sox left-hander Garrett Crochet, another pitcher traded just 11 days before him. Both pitchers have two years of club control remaining, but the cost of acquiring Crochet was significantly higher, involving the Red Sox sending four of their top 14 prospects to the White Sox, including their last two first-round picks. In contrast, a similar trade with the Phillies might have required both Aidan Miller and Justin Crawford.
Comparing Luzardo and Crochet
The next two seasons will be an interesting period for comparing Luzardo and Crochet. While the cost of acquiring Crochet was higher, the Phillies are thrilled with the lefty they added. Luzardo was one of the top strikeout pitchers in all of baseball in 2022 and 2023, posting a 3.48 ERA and a strikeout rate that placed him among the league’s elite. Among all major-league pitchers who made at least 50 starts over those two seasons, only five had a higher strikeout rate: Spencer Strider, Blake Snell, Shohei Ohtani, Kevin Gausman, and Dylan Cease. Luzardo’s addition to the Phillies’ rotation, which includes perennial Cy Young candidate Zack Wheeler, durable workhorse Aaron Nola, breakout star Cristopher Sanchez, and first-half sensation Ranger Suarez, is a significant upgrade and a testament to the team’s ambition.
A Bright Future
Luzardo’s spring debut is a promising signal for the Phillies’ 2024 season. Joining a rotation that boasts some of the best pitchers in the league, Luzardo is excited about the opportunity to contribute to the team’s success. “It’s nice to be a part of this and gel with the guys,” he said. “I think we can bounce ideas off each other and grow into something great.” The combination of talent, experience, and camaraderie in the Phillies’ rotation sets the stage for a formidable season ahead. With Luzardo firing on all cylinders, the Phillies are poised to make a significant impact in the National League.
