The Phillies have placed right-handed pitcher Taijuan Walker on the 15-day injured list (retroactive to June 22) with right index finger inflammation. To fill his spot on the 26-man roster, right-handed pitcher Michael Mercado was recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley. Mercado will wear No. 63.
Phillies President of Baseball Operations Dave Dombrowski made the announcement.
Walker, 31, has posted a 3-3 record with a 5.60 ERA (33 ER, 53.0 IP) and 43 strikeouts over his 10 starts for the Phillies this season. The right-hander opened the year on the injured list due to right shoulder soreness and made three starts as part of his rehabilitation assignment in April with single-A Clearwater and Lehigh Valley.
Originally selected by the Seattle Mariners in the first round (43rd overall) of the 2010 MLB Draft, Walker was signed by the Phillies as a free agent on Dec. 16, 2022. As a Phillie (2023-24), the Shreveport, La., native has gone 18-9 with a 4.67 ERA (117 ER, 225.2 IP) and 191 strikeouts in 41 starts.
With the promotion, Mercado, 25, will begin his first stint on an active major league roster. The right-hander began the season with the IronPigs where he has gone 1-1 with a 1.71 ERA (9 ER, 47.1 IP) and 44 strikeouts over 14 games (10 starts). Mercado has limited opponents to a .189/.297/.262 slash line with a .559 OPS. After beginning the season with four scoreless relief appearances, Mercado has worked out of the IronPigs’ starting rotation where he has posted a 1.98 ERA (9 ER, 41.0 IP) with 39 strikeouts.
A native of Greenville, S.C., Mercado was originally selected by the Tampa Bay Rays in the second round of the 2017 MLB Draft. He was acquired by the Phillies from the Rays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Adam Leverett and cash considerations on Nov. 6, 2023.
