Healthy once again, Aaron Nola seeks a little something extra on his fastball

Healthy once again, Aaron Nola seeks a little something extra on his fastball originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia

CLEARWATER, Fla. – Aaron Nola might have had a season to forget in 2025, but he doesn’t want to forget everything.

“I had some good games sprinkled in there,” he said after making his spring debut Friday. “I take the bad ones and learn from them and take the good ones and run with them, capitalize on them.”

A rib injury and an ankle injury limited Nola to just 17 starts last season, a career-low in a full season. His ERA (6.01) and WHIP (1.346) were both career highs.

To the naked eye, Nola’s overall stuff appeared to be down last season. This was confirmed by the hitters and the technology.

Opposing batters hit .266 against Nola and had a hard-hit rate of 43.3 percent, according to Statcast. Both were the highest marks against Nola in his career. Opponents slugged .480 against him and had a .805 OPS, both high marks in Nola’s career.

On the radar gun, his average fastball velocity was under 92 miles per hour for the first time in eight seasons.

Now, Nola is not a power pitcher, especially in today’s game. He’s a change-of-speed, command guy. But the slip in velocity was indicative of a decline in overall stuff.

He’s trying to address that this spring.

“Obviously, my focus is on command,” he said. “But I’m trying to get some late jump on the fastball. I’m not going to be throwing 100 (mph), but the late life, that’s kind of what I’m focused on.”

How do you get that?

“Extension,” he said. “Trying to get the body in good position with the delivery. You’re always trying to keep your delivery sharp.”

Nola, who turns 33 in June, is entering his 12^th big-league season, all with the Phillies. He is a model citizen, a Southern gentleman (from Baton Rouge) and a future Wall of Famer. He ranks second in club history in strikeouts (1,876), fifth in starts (285) and seventh in wins (109) and innings (1,715 2/3).

In racking up these numbers, Nola has carried a huge load for the team. From the start of the 2017 season to the end of the 2024 season, he was a pillar of durability, pitching 1,432 2/3 innings, the most in the majors.

Pitchers only have so many bullets.

Were Nola’s injuries and struggles last season a sign that he’s wearing down? Or was 2025 just one of those seasons?

Time will tell.

The Phillies surely hope it was just one of those seasons because he is signed for five more seasons at $24.5 million per. In the short term, he is crucial to the success of the 2026 team. The Phillies’ starting staff has talent, but it’s super-thin beyond the top 5.

“I feel good, I really do,” Nola said. “Obviously, I had the injuries last year, but before that, I felt great. My body feels good ramping up. I’m in good condition. I hope I’m healthy all year. I’m ready for 32, 33 starts again. I’m preparing for that.”

Nola debuted with two innings of work in Friday’s 10-2 win over the Marlins. He pitched a scoreless first inning. He allowed a two-out single and an RBI double in the second inning. The fly-ball double appeared catchable at the left field wall, but Otto Kemp could not make a play, preventing Nola from getting out of the inning unscathed.

Nola walked none and struck out two. His fastball averaged 91.7 mph. He threw 31 pitches and got six swings and misses.

“Really encouraging,” manager Rob Thomson said. “He touched 93 (mph) and commanded the baseball. Normally, his velocity is not there yet. That comes later in camp, but he looked strong. The curveball was really good. He got some swing and miss, which is good to see. I like what I saw. He should have been out of that (second) inning, really.”

Because he will pitch for Italy (his great-grandparents’ birth country) in the World Baseball Classic, Nola started his off-season preparation a little earlier this winter. His workouts included more long-toss, which may or may not help his velocity.

“He’s worked hard,” Thomson said. “I’m old-school. I think long-toss helps.”

A little extra velo can only help Nola.

“I think it’s important,” Thomson said. “He doesn’t have to be 97-98 (mph). If he’s in that 93-94 (mph) range, it makes his curveball better. They have to be ready for a little bit of fastball so the change-up becomes better. I just think the stuff turns up a little.”

Nola will make one more start in camp before he joins Team Italy for the WBC. He will start against Mexico on March 11 in Houston. He’s eager to pitch well for Italy then dive into the postgame spread.

“I’m excited to eat their food,” he joked.

Spring training coverage on NBC Sports Philadelphia is presented by Dietz & Watson.