Los Angeles, CA – October 09: Relief pitcher Orion Kerkering #50 of the Philadelphia Phillies can’t field a ground ball by Andy Pages (not pictured) as Hyeseong Kim (not pictured) of the Los Angeles Dodgers scores the winning run in the eleventh inning of game 4 of a National League Division series baseball game at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles on Thursday, October 9, 2025. Los Angeles Dodgers won 2-1 to adavance to the NLCS. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
MediaNews Group via Getty Images
The Philadelphia Phillies managed to capture their second straight National League East division title last season, but that was followed by a harsh disappointment in the playoffs.
For the second straight year, the Phillies won just a single postseason game before being eliminated. It was a brutal end after another strong regular season and another year of missed expectations for one of baseball’s most expensive rosters.
And while there is plenty of blame to go around for that disappointment, one player endured a particularly brutal moment in the spotlight as the team’s season officially ended.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Orion Kerkering Looking To Overcome Panic Moment On Mound
“The zeros kept piling up, the pressure kept building, and then, with the bases loaded and two outs in (National League Division Series Game 4’s) 11th inning, Orion Kerkering, the Philadelphia Phillies’ young reliever, found himself in the middle of chaos,” Alden Gonzalez wrote for ESPN. “But panic set in.”
Instead of making the easy throw to first baseman Bryce Harper, Kerkering panicked and tried to throw to catcher JT Realmuto, sending the ball sailing over him and allowing the Dodgers to score a winning run and end the Phillies’ season.
It was a nightmare moment for Kerkering, who took accountability in postgame comments but hasn’t yet had the chance to retake the mound and formally put the outing behind him. And after such a brutal error by such a young player, Phillies fans might be a little anxious that there will be some lasting effects.
Philadelphia Phillies’ Tanner Banks Sends Orion Kerkering Message After Brutal Error
At least one of Kerkering’s teammates, though, is confident he will bounce back. Four-year big-league veteran and Kerkering’s relief corps mate Tanner Banks made that much clear when he detailed Kerkering’s mindset following last season.
“I compare Kerk to, for me, like a dog,” Banks said, according to Crossing Broad’s Luke Arcaini. “You know, he’s got that mentality of like, ‘let me get back out there, let me go at it again.’ But also, he’s extremely loyal to his teammates and to the city and everyone around him, and I know he’s been working hard.”
Before his prolific error against the Dodgers, Kerkering seemed to be a key piece of the future for the Phillies’ bullpen. In his third year in the big leagues, the 24-year-old righty posted a 3.30 ERA with four saves in 60 total innings.
Phillies’ fans and Kerkering’s teammates alike are hoping he can pick up on that momentum while putting the nightmare finish to the year behind him for next season.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/peterchawaga/2026/01/21/phillies-veteran-details-teammates-mindset-after-nightmare-end-like-a-dog/
