Philadelphia Phillies All-Star pitcher Aaron Nola, who was preparing to rejoin the rotation this month, now faces an uncertain return due to a stress fracture in his ribs. Nola, sidelined since mid-May originally because of an ankle sprain, encountered this unexpected injury while ramping up his recovery efforts.
The rib issue was first mistaken for a minor strain, but medical evaluations confirmed it to be a stress fracture, forcing Nola to remain off the mound for an extended period. He last pitched on May 14 against the St. Louis Cardinals, a game where he struggled, allowing nine runs on twelve hits.
Aaron Nola Describes the Unfamiliar Rib Injury
Nola addressed the media on Friday, sharing his frustration and uncertainty regarding the injury’s timeline and impact. The pitcher emphasized how unfamiliar this type of injury is for him, noting it differs from muscle strains he has experienced before.
“I really don’t know [when I’ll return.] I’ve never had an injury like this before. I feel like it would be different if it was a muscular type of thing,” said Nola to the media.
He explained that the pain worsened as he increased his activity level following the ankle recovery, making this setback all the more discouraging.
“It definitely wasn’t the news I was expecting. It kinda came on stronger when I was getting a little hotter from my ankle.”
The right rib injury impacts Nola’s breathing, especially during intense physical exertion like pitching.
“When I breathe really heavy and my ribcage gets big, and obviously throwing.”
Regarding the injury’s cause, Nola admitted it’s unclear how or when the fracture developed, as there was no specific incident triggering the pain.
“It could have, I’m not really sure, I just know that I felt it more when I started to ramp back up after the ankle felt a little bit better. Honestly, I don’t really know. I guess it’s from throwing and working that area a lot. I’m not sure.”
Phillies Face Unprecedented Injury Setbacks Despite a Smaller Injured List
Unlike other strong National League teams such as the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets, who currently have numerous players on the injured list, the Phillies maintain a short list but suffer major losses affecting key contributors. At present, only two players are placed officially on the Phillies’ injury list: Aaron Nola and Bryce Harper.
Harper has been sidelined by a recurring wrist issue that put him on the 10-day injured list after his last appearance on June 5 against the Toronto Blue Jays. Similarly, Nola’s return was derailed after revealing the rib fracture during his rehab.
Both players are crucial to Philadelphia’s success, combining for 8.5 fWAR in the 2024 season. Harper earned the Silver Slugger Award and finished sixth in the National League MVP voting, while Nola led the major leagues in starts with 33, compiling a 14-8 record.
The absence of these two All-Stars presents a significant challenge for the Phillies as they attempt to maintain their competitiveness in a demanding MLB season. With no clear timetable for Nola’s recovery and Harper still rehabbing his wrist, the team faces an uphill battle to recover lost ground in their division.