When you are drafted seventh overall by a team in desperate need of a rebuild, you tend to come fully equipped with expectations.
Aaron Nola was drafted with an already carved timeline. He was on the fast track to the majors. And it didn't take him long to make it to the Phillies.
On July 21, the journey came complete. Nola made his major-league debut as the Phillies hosted the Tampa Bay Rays. Nola allowed one run on five hits in six innings. And he lost the game, 1-0.
Thus is the struggle of being on a bad team, even the best players in their best performances can’t always lift the team.
From there, Nola was nearly unstoppable.
The first win came in his next start. Following up Cole Hamels no-hitter was going to be no easy task. But Nola did his best and came out victorious with 7 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on five hits with two walks and six strikeouts in an 11-5 Phillies win over the Chicago Cubs.
Aside from one shaky start in New York against the Mets, Nola showed why he was among the top picks in the 2014 Draft.
In essentially less than a year, Nola has moved from prospect to ace. That may be temporary, given the other prospects the Phillies now have in the system. But Nola is certainly going to be a mainstay on the mound for the Phillies going forward.
Nola’s best start came on Aug. 23 in Miami. The rookie right-hander fired eight shutout innings, allowing three hits, two walks and striking out six. It was Nola's only start where he reached 100 pitches.
His second loss came in New York and this time, he allowed multiple runs. His next start proved to be his second-best of the season, barely falling short of his Aug. 23 start. Nola pitched seven shutout innings in Atlanta, allowing six hits, one walk and striking out seven.
Kevin Durso is editorial assistant for Philliedelphia. Follow him on Twitter @Kevin_Durso.
