Get this: Garrett Whitlock, the setup man, was out there dealing with a fractured tibia late in the 2026 season. Yeah, you read that right, a *stress fracture* in his leg, and he was still putting up numbers that make you shake your head in disbelief. Imagine the grit it takes to play through that kind of pain!
Whitlock’s Unbelievable Grit and Recovery
The imaging confirmed it, the guy had a stress fracture. But despite pitching with a broken leg, Whitlock was a machine. He wasn’t just surviving, he was dominating. We’re talking a 1.72 ERA, a ridiculous 0.90 WHIP, and opponents only hit .204 against him across 54 games and 52 ⅓ innings. That’s insane production, especially with that kind of injury! It’s no surprise he finished ninth for 2026 AL Reliever of the Year, even snagging a second-place vote and two fifth-place votes. President of baseball operations Craig Breslow sounds confident about his recovery, saying it’s “making good progress” and he doesn’t “anticipate this to be something that has longer term implications.” Let’s hope he’s right, because a healthy Whitlock could be an even bigger force next season.
Triston Casas’ Grueling Road Back to the Diamond
Meanwhile, Triston Casas is finally taking some real steps towards playing again, heading to the Dominican Winter League for Tigres del Licey this offseason. This isn’t his first rodeo there, he also played for Licey back in 2022-23. The big first baseman has been through the wringer, though. He hasn’t seen a major league game since May 2, 2025, which means it’s been over 18 months since he ruptured his left patellar tendon. And if that wasn’t enough, 2026 threw even more at him, with a left-side intercostal strain earlier in the year and then arthroscopic wrist surgery in August. Breslow sounds optimistic about Casas competing in the Winter League, noting he’s “feeling good,” but admitted he “still needs to ramp up in terms of game speed and intensity.” Given how much time he’s missed, Breslow isn’t worried about his total workload, just making sure his body is truly ready for competitive play. This Winter League stint is absolutely massive for him to shake off the rust and prove he’s healthy.
Prospect Watch: Marcus Phillips’ High Ceiling and High Walks
Then there’s Marcus Phillips, one of the organization’s top pitching prospects, who’s finally fully healthy after dealing with elbow inflammation late last season. The 22-year-old righty was drafted 33rd overall in 2025 out of Tennessee, and while the talent is undeniable, his first professional season in 2026 for High-A Greenville was a rough one. We’re talking an 0-7 record, a 6.71 ERA, and a 1.80 WHIP in 19 outings, 18 of them starts. The big problem? Command, big time. He walked 51 batters in just 61 ⅔ innings! Breslow explained they drafted Phillips knowing he was a raw athlete with “elite mover” qualities and some “unique things” with his pitches, especially his fastball spin. But he just didn’t have a lot of pitching reps. Breslow says the team’s pitching coaches have been working to tighten up his delivery and get his fastball where it needs to be. Despite the walk rate, Breslow insists Phillips “made a lot of progress” and that his “ability to do some things with the ball is pretty special, pretty unique.” The hope is more reps will lead to better results. They’re still “really, really high on him.”
So, as we look ahead, Casas’ performance in the Winter League will be key to seeing if he’s truly back, and Whitlock’s continued recovery from that wild stress fracture will show just how good he can be at full strength. And don’t expect any players to be labeled “untouchable” in trades, either. Breslow is on record saying he’s “never said” anyone is off limits, which tells you everything you need to know about how this team is approaching the future.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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