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
LOS ANGELES - Orion Kerkering wanted to crawl into a hole or under a rock.
Nick Castellanos wouldn't let him.
Kerkering had just made the most egregious error, the most boneheaded play in franchise playoff history, resulting in the Phillies losing to the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 in 11 innings and being eliminated from the playoffs in four games (3-1).
It was the first time any playoff series ended on a walk off error in MLB history.
This didn't show up in the original Stathead search. I guess because it wasn't a straight error.
Thanks to STATS for adding this perspective https://t.co/Xf9EycLpUN
And as the Dodgers celebrated wildly around him, Kerkering just stood there, hunched over, hands on his knees, dealing with the shock of what had just happened to him.
The video of that moment is bound to become a generational meme. It's why Kerkering needed to find somewhere to go.
He stood up, began slowly walking off the field when suddenly, a big arm swooped over his shoulder.
Oct 9, 2025; Los Angeles, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Orion Kerkering (50), right fielder Nick Castellanos (8) and second baseman Bryson Stott (5) leave the field after they were defeated by 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 "I just wanted to be next to him while he walked off the field just so he's not alone in that moment," Castellanos said.
It was a pay it forward moment for Castellanos. He made the final out of the 2022 World Series. Like Kerkering, he was distraught in the moment. First base coach Paco Figueroa waited for him and walked him off the field.
When he got to the dugout steps, Kerkering met manager Rob Thomson. The Phillies manager hugged him and shared some words.
"I feel for him because he's putting it all on his shoulders," Thomson said. "But we win as a team and we lose as a team."
It took Kerkering awhile to make his way into the clubhouse. He knew he would have to speak to the media and answer for his play. What happened? Why didn't he throw to first base? What was he thinking?
But before he did, he was consoled by other teammates. Taijuan Walker had a moment with him. Matt Strahm, who serves as a kind of big brother to Kerkering, huddled with him the longest. Others, like Max Kepler and and Bryson Stott made their way to Kerkering, who was emotional.
Finally, he met with the media.
Orion Kerkering was very candid after his miscue.
(Via @AntSanPhilly) pic.twitter.com/kSUqycK35f
"It just hit hit off my foot and once the pressure got to me, I just thought it was a faster throw to J.T. (Realmuto). A little quicker throw than trying to throw cross-body to Bryce (Harper at first base)," Kerkering said, "It was just a poor, shit throw."
Was it ever.
"OH MY GOODNESS! HE THROWS IT AWAY! AND THE DODGERS HAVE WON! THE DODGERS WIN, AND THEY ARE MOVING ON TO THE NLCS IN THE MOST IMPROBABLE FINISH! PANDEMONIUM AT DODGER STADIUM! AND YOUR HEART BREAKS FOR ORION KERKERING!"
Brian Anderson on the TBS call. ⚾️🎙️ #MLB pic.twitter.com/cCiHEFeEGD
Realmuto was pointing to first base. Several players were calling for him to throw to first, where he had plenty of time to get Andy Pages who was running to first.
But Kerkering didn't hear them.
"I was (caught up) in the moment," Kerkering said, acknowledging he didn't hear anyone yell to throw to first base or see Realmuto pointing to first.
Kerkering was appreciative of all his teammates coming up to him and telling him it wasn't his fault that they lost. That he'll overcome this. And he said he'll use it as fuel this offseason, starting with the most rudimentary of fielding practice sessions.
"A wall and a tennis ball, for sure," he said. "Hopefully it's the start of a long career. I just got to keep in the back of my head that this really fucking sicks right now, but hopefully I'll keep pushing and get over the hump."
While this play was brutal, and a horrible way for a season to end, all of the blame can not and should not be put on Kerkering.
There was Jhoan Duran, the lights out closer who was supposed to be the difference-maker for the Phillies come October, walking in the tying run in the seventh inning.
"That's Duran's first career bases loaded walk, so you're not expecting that," Thomson said. "With his ability to throw strikes, I really wasn't expecting that."
But focusing on pitching mistakes is ludicrous in a series where they held the vaunted Dodgers lineup to 28 for 143 (.196) for the series. Shohei Ohtani specifically was 1 for 18 (.056) and struck out nine times.
No, the Phillies lost this series because they didn't hit enough. Period. Specifically, the top of the order.
Sure there was Game 3. Kyle Schwarber had a two-homer game. Trea Turner had three hits. Bryce Harper had two hits and a walk.
Great.
The three losses? The trio combined to go 3 for 35 (.086) and struck out 13 times. That's not going to get it done.
Some of that has to be credited to the Dodgers pitching staff. There is definitely a difference between the pitching the Phillies lost to this season as compared to how they came up small against Arizona in 2023 and the Mets in 2024.
That said, it's still not acceptable.
"We've had four chances to win a World Series and we were closest in 2022 and then we fell shorter, and then we fell shorter, and then we finished the exact same as last year," Castellanos said. "It's unfortunate because I think we have one of the most talented teams in baseball and we did not play up to what we are capable of (doing)."
Asked to square the playoff regression with the fact that they improved as a team in each of those regular seasons, Castellanos provided some clarity.
"The regular season is not the postseason," Castellanos said. "They're two completely different animals. The season is one thing. Your talent can get you to the playoffs. But once you are in the tournament, it's completely different. And I think, as a whole organization, once we get into the tournament, we've regressed."
That was spot on.
And now the Phillies head into an offseason of complete uncertainty.
It starts with manager Rob Thomson. Will he be back?
Bryce Harper on Rob Thomson’s future to @TimKellySports pic.twitter.com/6za1IPOe8p
As for the lineup, the only hitters who you can say, with confidence, that will be back are Turner, Harper and Stott.
Schwarber, Realmuto and Kepler are free agents and there's no certainty to them re-signing with the Phillies (Kepler won't be back).
An emotional Kyle Schwarber discusses the loss and his future as he heads towards free agency to @TyDaubert pic.twitter.com/oUgeqTzyZx
Harrison Bader will likely decline his mutual option and also become a free agent.
Castellanos will likely be elsewhere next season after this season ended so frustratingly for him become a part-time player.
What the future holds for guys like Alec Bohm and Brandon Marsh are also debatable. Is Bohm going to be worth, say, $10.5 million? Do you keep Marsh strictly as a platoon corner outfielder?
Do Justin Crawford and/or Aidan Miller find their way to the Big Club?
On the pitching side, it's likely that Ranger Suarez has thrown his last pitch as a Phillie, as he hits free agency this offseason and his agent, Scott Boras, is going to look for a nice chunk of change for Suarez.
Zack Wheeler will be back at some point in early 2026, which leaves a rotation of Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola and Walker.
Where does Andrew Painter fit in this?
In the bullpen, Duran will be back, Strahm and Tanner Banks are under contract...
... and then there's Kerkering.
Fans will eventually get over this mistake. This isn't Bill Buckner in the World Series. Philadelphia teams have had more gut-wrenching playoff ends to their seasons.
Do Joe Carter, Kawhi Leonard, Ronde Barber and Patrick Kane ring a bell?
He'll be his usual jovial self when the team convenes for Spring Training (it's roughly 125 days until pitchers and catchers).
Whether he can put this behind him and get back to being the pitcher the Phillies think he can be, only time will tell.
