Apr 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Aaron Nola (27) pitches against the Los Angeles Dodgers during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images Bill Streicher
We continue to get a clearer picture of Aaron Nola's timetable as the longest-tenured Phillie tries to work his way back from a stress fracture in his right ribcage.
Prior to Friday's win over the Toronto Blue Jays, Nola met with the media and revealed that he was diagnosed with a stress fracture in his right ribcage, not a stress reaction as the Phillies first said. And yes, as we outlined, the former is a more serious injury.
Aaron Nola discusses the stress fracture in his right ribcage…
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/0igDO6Q3Rd
Saturday, Nola recorded an episode of "Phightin' Words" with On Pattison's Anthony SanFilippo and Crossing Broad's Bob Wankel. In it, Nola was asked if it's correct to assume that he will be back this season.
"Yes," Nola responded. "I'm very blessed it's not a big injury. It's something small. Probably two months-ish or so I'll be out, which is a long time, but it's better than a big injury. I'm very grateful it's not bad."
Aaron Nola gave his first timeline for recovery to the @PhightinPodcast:
“Probably two months-ish or so I’ll be out, which is a long time, but it’s better than a big injury. I’m very grateful it’s not bad.”
The full 30-minute interview with @Bob_Wankel and me drops Monday. pic.twitter.com/Y3QeKS5CkE
Nola is lucky to have avoided an injury that would require season-ending surgery, although it would seem hard to call this a minor one either. Even though Nola is almost a week into that recovery and he appears to mean two months until he is back pitching for the Phillies again, two months is still a long time.
Two months after the Phillies announced the injury would put Nola on target to return in early to mid August. It would wind up being nearly a three-month absence considering Nola initially went on the injured list with a right ankle sprain on May 16.