Oct 9, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Orion Kerkering (50) in the dugout after the final out as they lost to the Los Angeles Dodgers in game four of the NLDS during the 2025 MLB playoffs at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA – Orion Kerkering's season-ending, 11th-inning, walk-off error has already been discussed ad nauseam. He bobbled the ball, he sailed the throw, and that was that.
The player who panicked on the mound was Kerkering, the professional baseball player.
Now Orion, the 24-year-old human, faces the unenviable task of dealing with the aftermath.
Kerkering hunched over on the mound with his hands on his knees, and then buried his face in his hands once his teammates walked him to the dugout. He handled himself well when speaking with the media after the game, and he was very candid, but he was clearly devastated.
"Just a horseshit throw," Kerkering said after the game on Oct. 9.
Orion Kerkering was very candid after his miscue.
(Via @AntSanPhilly) pic.twitter.com/kSUqycK35f
In what was likely the worst moment of Kerkering's life, the Phillies picked him up. Nick Castellanos sprinted in from the outfield to put an arm around him. Kerkering's teammates told him the loss wasn't on him, and that they had opportunities to score, but didn't come through.
Phillies manager Rob Thomson echoed that sentiment during Thursday's year-end press conference.
"I just reiterated (to Kerkering) that that happened to be the last play of the last game, and we're out, so it's magnified," Thomson said.
"But there's so many things that happened prior to that. A bloop hit there, a great play (the Dodgers) make on a bunt. All these different things, decisions that I make, that didn't work out. All these other things are part of us losing."
Thomson said he spoke to Kerkering in the Phillies clubhouse after they flew back from Los Angeles, and then again the next day when the Phillies came in to pack everything up.
Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski also spoke to Kerkering a couple times, including after the game.
"I feel for Kerk. It was a tough situation. I know he was distraught," Dombrowski said. "He's a strong individual."
Dave Dombrowski says he feels for Orion Kerkering following his Game 4 miscue.
“He’s a strong individual… we will offer him whatever assistance that he needs, and we’ll continue to work with him to try to get him through that.”
(via @GraceDelPizzo) pic.twitter.com/6YK9kA4ceL
Dombrowski and the Phillies are offering Kerkering "whatever assistance he needs" to help him navigate through the fallout.
"We will continue to work with him to try to get him through that. I think he can do that, but I also know that it's a challenge for him. We'll keep in contact with him on a continued basis," Dombrowski said.
That contact will come from the front office, the administrative staff, the coaching staff and some of Kerkering's Phillies teammates. Dombrowski said the Phillies will give him "the best support system that we can."
Again, Kerkering is just 24 years old. Since his MLB debut in Sept. 2023, he's performed well, posting a 2.79 career ERA.
Mentally recovering from that crushing mistake will undoubtedly, at times, seem like a Sisyphean task. Can Kerkering overcome those ghosts in 2026 and pitch his way to a long MLB career?
Kerkering said after the game that he hopes so. Thomson said Thursday that he knows so.
"He's going to have a long career. A long career, successful career," Thomson said.
"People forget, and he needs to forget, too."
