Orion Kerkering was open and reflective after his costly mistake led to the Phillies’ elimination from the NLDS against the Dodgers.
Every MLB player dreams of shining in October, helping their team chase a World Series title. But when the pressure mounts, one wrong move can turn that dream into a nightmare — something Kerkering is now experiencing firsthand.
The young Phillies reliever has become the target of frustration in Philadelphia after his crucial 11th-inning blunder. With the bases loaded and two outs in a tie game, Kerkering mishandled a slow grounder hit directly to him. In a rush, he threw wildly to home instead of taking the safer play at first base, allowing the Dodgers to score the go-ahead run and win 2–1, ending the Phillies’ season.
Kerkering admitted afterward that the pressure of the moment got the best of him.
“Once the pressure got to me, I just thought it was a faster throw to JT — a little quicker than trying to go across my body to Bryce. So, yeah, just a horses**t throw,” Kerkering told Anthony SanFilippo of *On Pattison*.
Replays showed he likely had enough time to throw the runner out at first, but in the heat of the moment, he made what he believed was the right call — and it didn’t work out.
Mistakes like this are painful but often become valuable learning moments. For Kerkering, a 24-year-old in just his third full MLB season, the challenge now is to not let this error define his career. While fans’ criticism has been harsh, his self-awareness and willingness to face the mistake head-on show maturity and potential for growth.
“Just got to keep going,” Kerkering said. “Hopefully this is just the start of a long career. I’ll keep it in the back of my mind. This really f**king sucks right now, but hopefully I can keep pushing and get over this hump.”
