WASHINGTON — About half an hour after a dramatic exit via bullpen cart, Philadelphia Phillies closer Jhoan Duran walked through the visitors’ clubhouse at Nationals Park and into the training room.
He did not limp as he did right after the 94.1 mph liner hit the outside of his right ankle in the ninth inning Friday. Shortly after, the Phillies announced Duran’s X-rays had come back negative and he would receive further evaluation Saturday.
As for how Duran felt Saturday?
“Good,” he said. “I don’t feel nothing, like, it’s crazy. Yesterday I didn’t have power in my leg and now, I’m normal — like nothing happened.”
The Phillies feel comfortable sending Duran out in a save situation on Saturday, manager Rob Thomson said.
The news came after a brief, chaotic ninth-inning appearance Friday in which Nationals third baseman Paul DeJong sent Duran’s 1-2 sweeper toward the mound, striking Duran on the right ankle. Duran sprinted toward the first baseline to try to get a hand on the ball before limping toward first baseman Bryce Harper.
Are you seriously kidding me?? Why??! Hope Jhoan Duran is ok, but he’s in pain! #Phillies #RingTheBell.#JhoanDuran pic.twitter.com/vruXrKZDYZ
— AC (@ACinPhilly) August 16, 2025
Duran crouched, hands on his knees, staring at his feet, as the Phillies’ training staff rushed to his side. He remained on the field, talking with Phillies and Nationals trainers along with manager Rob Thomson and Philadelphia’s infielders as David Robertson began to warm up in the bullpen. Duran grimaced as he looked toward his ankle and gingerly attempted to put weight on it.
It took about six minutes before Duran departed the field, the Nationals’ bullpen cart taking him to the center-field exit. There was a significant delay before the cart rounded the warning track because postgame concert equipment blocked the Nationals’ medical cart — hence sending the bullpen cart.
“Before the cart came out — and it took a long time — he actually said, ‘I feel better,’” Thomson said. “‘I think I can walk over to the dugout.’”
There are multiple sets of stairs between the Phillies’ dugout and the visitors’ clubhouse in Washington, which was why the Phillies chose the cart.
After seeing no damage on the X-rays, Thomson said the Phillies determined the comebacker likely hit a nerve and gave Duran “dead foot.” Duran walked to the bus without issue last night, Thomson added, and came to the ballpark feeling normal on Saturday.
Jhoan Duran is carted off the field in the ninth inning. (Mitchell Layton / Getty Images)
The incident came after Duran elevated the Phillies’ bullpen after being acquired in a trade with Minnesota on July 30. In four appearances before Friday’s game, he’d given up one hit and struck out three while allowing no runs. He became the only closer in Phillies history with three straight one-two-three saves in his first three appearances with the club.
Robertson entered and recorded the final three outs of a 6-2 Phillies win.
Duran entered with a four-run lead, in part, because he had not pitched for five days. Thomson said he does not like relievers to go more than four days without an appearance.
“For me, it’s good,” Duran said, “because I don’t like (going) too many days of no throwing. When I have too many days with no throwing, I feel like I lose my control and I don’t like that.”
(Photo: Geoff Burke / Imagn Images)