"He’s a good young arm," Scherzer said of Luzardo. "And he tends to listen. He wants to learn, and listen. I’m a fan.”
“He definitely pushes me, in his own way, to be great,” Luzardo said.
More on their relationship here: www.inquirer.com/phillies/jes...
In previous winters, Luzardo focused more on velo.
This time, he eased up. Instead of one week off he took three. He focused on pitch shapes/command.
The results have been good. His velo is up this ST.
“I’ve had [Max] in my ear telling me that for three years” www.inquirer.com/phillies/jes...
Max Scherzer has become a mentor to Jesús Luzardo.
He gives him advice on offseason training. He also quizzes him on the NL East.
“What're you gonna do to the Braves lineup? Mets lineup?’
“I'd say it and he’d go, ‘Nope, wrong. This is how you’re gonna do it.'” www.inquirer.com/phillies/jes...
“He just looked at me and said, ‘Sorry, I ate a whole pumpkin pie last night.’”
A leaner Andrew Painter is moving better than ever. One reason is 'fewer trips to the Dairy Queen' www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...
Aidan Miller went to Philly a few days ago to see a team doctor about his back.
He said he wanted to get more opinions and "close the loop on everything."
“I’m starting to feel a lot better now. Don’t have a timeline or anything yet, but improvement for sure.” www.inquirer.com/phillies/aid...
RHP Luke Gabrysh grew up in Wilmington, pitched at St. Joe's, and buys his cheesesteaks at Dalessandro's.
He was mere feet away from Harper's G5 NLCS home run in 2022.
Now, as a Phillies minor leaguer, he's adjacent to his baseball heroes.
"It's crazy" www.inquirer.com/phillies/luk...
In January, when Luke Gabrysh was in Clearwater, he saw Aaron Nola playing catch.
Nola said hi to the minor leaguer (a lifelong Phillies fan).
“Of course, I knew who he was.”
Gabrysh texted his friends.
"’Just had a conversation with Nola.’ They were jealous” www.inquirer.com/phillies/luk...
Kyle Schwarber annihilated a baseball last night. No one in Phillies camp was surprised.
“I’m like, ‘He’s gonna hit a homer right here.'"
“You could just see it in Kyle’s eyes.”
“[Statcast] said 427. I go — ‘That’s a lie.’ That went further than 427.” www.inquirer.com/phillies/sch...
"I've been called Uncle," Worley said. "I've been called Grandpa.” www.inquirer.com/phillies/van...
08.03.2026 03:38 — 👍 25 🔁 5 💬 2 📌 2
Important update from Clearwater #boots #ballparkcat
08.03.2026 00:26 — 👍 26 🔁 0 💬 2 📌 0
In January, when Luke Gabrysh was in Clearwater, he saw Aaron Nola playing catch.
Nola said hi to the minor leaguer (a lifelong Phillies fan).
“Of course, I knew who he was.”
Gabrysh texted his friends.
"’Just had a conversation with Nola.’ They were jealous” www.inquirer.com/phillies/luk...
“He just looked at me and said, ‘Sorry, I ate a whole pumpkin pie last night.’”
A leaner Andrew Painter is moving better than ever. One reason is 'fewer trips to the Dairy Queen' www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...
Andrew Painter likes dessert.
He once ate an entire pumpkin pie in one sitting.
He and his teammates would get $3 cookie skillets every Tuesday in Clearwater.
But not anymore.
Painter is leaner now. He's feeling great.
“Fewer trips to the Dairy Queen,” he said: www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...
This is his second minor league ST but that hasn't made it any less surreal.
In January, he was throwing a bullpen at BayCare Ballpark and saw Nola playing catch in the outfield.
Nola introduced himself and they talked a bit.
"Of course I knew who he was" www.inquirer.com/phillies/luk...
He has flown under the radar, but has already piqued some interest.
Gabrysh, who pitched out of the bullpen at St. Joe's, is now working out of the rotation.
His velocity has jump up a few ticks this ST and he can spin the ball, too.
"Tons of strikes" www.inquirer.com/phillies/luk...
The Phillies took Gabrysh in the 15th round of 2024 draft.
He'd been to CBP dozens (hundreds?) of times, but this was different. He was escorted through an employee entrance.
"I went there not to watch a game. I went there to be part of the organization” www.inquirer.com/phillies/luk...
RHP Luke Gabrysh grew up in Wilmington, pitched at St. Joe's, and buys his cheesesteaks at Dalessandro's.
He was mere feet away from Harper's G5 NLCS home run in 2022.
Now, as a Phillies minor leaguer, he's adjacent to his baseball heroes.
"It's crazy" www.inquirer.com/phillies/luk...
“I said, ‘Go get you a suit, bro. Because God willing we’re gonna be in the playoffs again this year. And you’ve gotta look nice.’”
"I've got the aux cord [on the road]."
How Brandon Marsh is helping Justin Crawford, from gifting suit jackets to road game carpools: www.inquirer.com/phillies/bra...
At one point last year, Andrew Painter was 240 lbs. Now, he's 225.
It's helped his delivery. He's not as fatigued in games.
How did he lose weight? In part, by eating less dessert.
(No small feat for a guy who once ate a whole pumpkin pie the night before a start) www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...
Painter set out to get back to 225, which he considers his "ideal weight."
It wasn't easy, but he worked hard and has done it, and is now feeling great.
This is part of the reason why the RHP has looked so dominant this spring.
“Less sweet treats,” he said: www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...
Luzardo said Painter's eating habits are "notorious."
The RHP's house, in Pompano Beach, is down the street from a Dairy Queen.
It was easy —perhaps too easy— to order an Oreo blizzard.
“I’m almost positive he'd go to Publix and pick up a pie,” said a former coach www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...
The pie story is famous within the Phillies organization.
It was 2021, the night before Painter's last FCL start.
He ate a whole pumpkin pie at home. The next day, minutes before the game, his stomach hurt.
“He said, ‘Sorry I ate a whole pumpkin pie last night'": www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...
Andrew Painter likes dessert.
He once ate an entire pumpkin pie in one sitting.
He and his teammates would get $3 cookie skillets every Tuesday in Clearwater.
But not anymore.
Painter is leaner now. He's feeling great.
“Fewer trips to the Dairy Queen,” he said: www.inquirer.com/phillies/and...
Justin Crawford and Brandon Marsh are buddies.
They carpool to road games (Marsh has the aux cord).
He also bought Crawford a suit when a vendor came last week.
“I said, ‘Go get you a suit, bro.' Because God willing we’re gonna be in the playoffs again this year." www.inquirer.com/phillies/bra...
“I said, ‘Go get you a suit, bro. Because God willing we’re gonna be in the playoffs again this year. And you’ve gotta look nice.’”
"I've got the aux cord [on the road]."
How Brandon Marsh is helping Justin Crawford, from gifting suit jackets to road game carpools: www.inquirer.com/phillies/bra...
Thomson has a rule where players with three years of service time can drive if they want
05.03.2026 17:17 — 👍 4 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
These might seem like little gestures but to Crawford they mean a lot.
“[Marsh] is just super genuine and super welcoming,” he said. “Those are the type of guys you want to be around.”
How Marsh has helped Crawford ahead of an important season: www.inquirer.com/phillies/bra...
Marsh does the driving to road games. He controls the music.
In recent years this might have meant Lil Uzi Vert. Now not so much.
"I've been on a Larry June and Freddie Gibbs kick. So more smooth rap instead of...you know, bang your head off the front windshield." www.inquirer.com/phillies/bra...
Crawford says Marsh has taken him under his wing. It's helped make him feel more confident this spring.
To Marsh, it's about paying it forward.
"[As a rookie], I was trying to be Super Man. They helped ease the game for me.
"I'm trying to do the same for J Craw." www.inquirer.com/phillies/bra...
Justin Crawford and Brandon Marsh are buddies.
They carpool to road games (Marsh has the aux cord).
He also bought Crawford a suit when a vendor came last week.
“I said, ‘Go get you a suit, bro.' Because God willing we’re gonna be in the playoffs again this year." www.inquirer.com/phillies/bra...
