Subscribe
Follow Us
The Philadelphia Phillies gained relief this afternoon as closer Jhoan Duran reassured teammates and fans that he is healthy after a frightening injury scare. The severity of his situation diminished rapidly when Duran dropped his “100%” claim.
His status had been a major talking point since the incident, as losing a key bullpen piece during a playoff push could have had ripple effects throughout the roster. Fortunately for Philly, the news shifted quickly toward optimism.
Duran suffered the scare in the ninth inning of a win over the Washington Nationals Friday night when a 94.1 mph come-backer struck his right ankle. He was carted off the field in visible pain, raising immediate concern about his availability. The injury update arrived shortly after, bringing relief across the clubhouse. X-rays showed no fractures, and the elite closer reported he was no longer limping.
Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer relayed an encounter he had with the reliever on X, (formerly known as Twitter) noting Duran’s immediate status.
“Just saw Jhoan Duran. Says he feels “100%.” Not limping.”
That statement anchored the Phillies bullpen health narrative, offering reassurance during a time when the team’s back-end strength felt fragile. The bullpen—once a glaring weakness—has transformed since Duran’s arrival from the Minnesota Twins. His dominance, with a flame-throwing arsenal and a penchant for dramatic entrances, has shifted the tone of Philadelphia’s late-game strategy.
Philadelphia acquired the 27-year-old in a bold trade before the deadline, surrendering top prospects Eduardo Tait and Mick Abel. Since joining the team, Duran’s closer availability has been nearly flawless, delivering electric performances and energizing the stable of relievers he joined, including veteran David Robertson.
His ability to consistently hit triple digits on the radar gun while mixing in a sharp breaking ball has added a new level of intimidation to the ninth inning. Opposing hitters have struggled to make solid contact, often left guessing between heat and movement.
The club's pursuit of postseason glory hinges on bullpen consistency. With Duran avoiding injury and maintaining his velocity, the rotation and offense can stay aggressive. The right-hander's continued presence ensures Phillies playoff bullpen stability, allowing Rob Thomson to navigate high-leverage moments with confidence in his closer’s readiness.
All signs point to the bullpen ace being fully available for this afternoon’s rematch with the Nationals. While Duran remains on the injury watch list pending further tests, his “100%” assertion already alleviated a major offseason concern. Philadelphia’s ability to retain bullpen momentum heading into the stretch run now looks significantly stronger.
