Aaron Nola has spent 12 seasons wearing a Philadelphia Phillies uniform, making him the longest-tenured player on the roster. After years of individual success and difficult stretches, however, this season carries a special meaning for the veteran right-hander.
“It’s a blessing to be on a staff like this,” Nola said.
Nola has established himself as one of the most accomplished pitchers in Phillies history. He has finished in the top five of National League Cy Young voting twice and owns the franchise record for strikeouts by a right-handed pitcher, reaching 2,038 through September 9.
But the past two seasons have tested the veteran in ways he had rarely experienced during his career.
Nola struggled to a 6.01 ERA in 2025 while dealing with injuries that disrupted his season. A sprained ankle was followed by a rib fracture, costing him valuable time on the mound and making it difficult to feel like himself.
“It was kind of a bit of a damper in that I didn’t really feel like myself,” Nola said.
The ankle injury proved particularly challenging. Although Nola understood that his lower half played an important role in his delivery, he admitted he underestimated just how significant the ankle would be to his pitching mechanics.
“I knew the ankle plays a big part in pitching, but I didn’t really know for me it played as big of a part as it did,” Nola explained.
Once the issue was corrected and Nola regained his health, his delivery began to look sharper — and the results followed.
After entering July with a 6.04 ERA this season, Nola has completely changed the narrative. Since the beginning of July, he has posted a 3.21 ERA with 75 strikeouts across 70 innings. Over his last eight starts, that ERA has dropped to 2.31.
His most recent outing offered another reminder of what the Phillies have come to expect from him. Nola delivered seven innings of one-run baseball against the division-leading Atlanta Braves, giving Philadelphia another strong performance from its veteran starter.
“I can have bullpen sessions and throwing sessions where everything feels good,” Nola said, emphasizing how different it feels to pitch when his body is finally cooperating.
Despite his early-season struggles, Nola never allowed frustration to consume him. He knew that being healthy gave him an opportunity to turn things around, and his second-half surge has become an important part of Philadelphia’s success.
The veteran has also had to adapt to a changing game throughout his career. The introduction of the pitch clock in 2023 forced pitchers across baseball to alter their routines, and Nola was no exception.
“It took me just about all season,” Nola said. “I feel like I’m not a slow worker, but I’m also not a quick worker. I don’t mind the pitch clock anymore.”
PitchCom has helped him manage some of those changes, while Nola believes MLB could still make adjustments to the rules surrounding pitcher disengagements.
He has also noticed a major difference in the talent entering the majors. According to Nola, young players today appear more prepared than they were when he first reached the big leagues, while the league has also seen an increase in dangerous power hitters.
Still, Nola keeps his approach simple.
“You’re supposed to focus on trying to get the hitter out,” he said. “I’m going to make adjustments on the fly most of the time.”
Those adjustments often begin during bullpen sessions, when Nola studies his upcoming opponent and prepares for the challenges he expects to face.
Yet perhaps the most revealing part of Nola’s outlook this season is how much appreciation he has for the pitchers around him.
Nola praised rookie Andrew Painter, noting that the young starter’s struggles can ultimately become valuable lessons.
“This is a learning curve for him too,” Nola said. “He’s going to learn a lot from this year. He’s going to grow from his successes and failures this year. He’s going to be a better player out of it.”
Nola was equally complimentary of Jesús Luzardo, calling him an “unbelievable guy and teammate” and praising his ability to remain positive through difficult outings.
As for Zack Wheeler, Nola offered perhaps his strongest endorsement.
“Probably the best pitcher I’ve ever played with,” Nola said.
Even after Wheeler underwent thoracic outlet syndrome surgery that involved the removal of a significant portion of a rib, Nola expected him to return as one of the National League’s best pitchers.
“Knowing Wheeler, he’s not going to come back mediocre. He doesn’t really settle for that,” Nola said.
Nola also marveled at Cristopher Sánchez’s remarkable stretch earlier this season.
“50-inning [scoreless] streak, dude. It was [like] a video game watching that guy,” Nola said.
For Nola, the Phillies’ rotation is more than a collection of talented arms. It is a group that continues to push one another and provide something special every time they take the mound.
“What these guys do: Every time they take the mound, you have an opportunity to see something special, and I hope everybody knows that,” Nola said.
After battling injuries, inconsistency and a difficult start to the season, Nola is once again pitching with confidence. And with an elite group of teammates beside him, the longtime Phillie has plenty of reasons to feel blessed.
