CLEARWATER, Fla. — The World Baseball Classic is anything but a collection of exhibition games that come around every three to four years in early March. Stars from across the globe have the opportunity to represent their home country, or their families’ roots. For Aaron Nola, it’s been an extension of what has been a comforting spring — not only for the right-hander, but for the Phillies organization. And, as it turns out, for Team USA, too. On Wednesday at Daikin Park in Houston, the 32-year-old delivered five scoreless innings of four-hit baseball, striking out five batters on 69 pitches. Italy’s 9-1 victory over Mexico clinched Pool B and punched the Americans’ ticket to the quarterfinals in the process. Trea Turner, who starred in the 2023 Classic, was watching. “Vintage Nols,” Turner said Thursday in Clearwater. “He looked really good. I watched the first half of that game and he looked sharp. Velo’s up.” The velocity has been the story of Nola’s spring. Last season, his average fastball sat at 91.4 mph. Wednesday against Mexico, it was 92.8 mph, touching 94.5 — a new spring high. He’s also shown a noticeable uptick in spin rate, reading at 2,408 RPMs, up from a 2,320 average. The added spin has given the pitch more bite and ride, making it harder to square up. Last year, opponents slugged .529 against the pitch. It was also the lowest average velocity on the heater in his career. Nola’s 2025 ERA ballooned into the sixes. Turner, who has faced Nola plenty from the other side, knows exactly what an extra few ticks means. “Last year, early on, he was like 88, 90,” Turner said. “He’s already up to 94, 95. I think that’s huge for him. When I’ve faced him throwing an extra three, four miles an hour, it makes him a lot tougher to hit.” It was Nola’s signature knuckle curve that stole the show, though. He spun it 21 times, 16 of them for strikes. Four of his five strikeouts came on that delivery, a pitch that has also shown increased spin in recent weeks. Nola set the tone early and often with his fastball before using the curve to put hitters away. He said after the game the command was there from the start. “I got ahead pretty well,” Nola told reporters after the game. “The fastball had a little jump to it early on and the command was there. I would set up my curveball — it felt pretty sharp, got some guys out in front and swinging over it.” Reliever Orion Kerkering, who has watched Nola up close since coming up through Philadelphia’s system, wasn’t surprised by any of it. “It’s Aaron Nola being Aaron Nola,” Kerkering said. “Just seeing how aggressive he was — you could see he was back to himself again. It’s always great to see that.” Kerkering pointed to something that doesn’t show up in a box score when asked what sets Nola apart. “His work ethic,” he said. “He’s in there four hours before the game even starts — stretching out, doing his routine. He always knows what’s best for himself. And honestly, you can pick his brain because of that. He’s always learning new things, and he’s always willing to share.” On the velocity jump specifically, Kerkering made clear that Nola looks much healthier after dealing with a right-ankle sprain and ribcage issue that limited his 2025. “He’s just had more time to recover from his injury last year,” Kerkering said. “He started a little sooner, did more long toss earlier. Some guys are different. And it always comes with age — not saying he’s old, but what you did earlier in your career isn’t the same as five, six years down the road. He’s always making adjustments.” Nola said the setting made it easier to push through five innings than a typical spring start. “The atmosphere and the state of the game made it a little bit easier to go out there for five innings and 60-something pitches,” he said. “A little bit more fun. The body feels really good.” For Nola, who has Italian heritage on his father’s side, the tournament carries added meaning beyond the baseball. “I’m honored they asked me to play,” he said. “I’ve had a ton of family here. It really does mean a lot to represent Italy.” Turner has been in contact with Phillies teammates competing in the WBC, texting Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper occasionally, but said he’s mostly been letting them enjoy the moment without the noise. What he’s seen from Nola, though, tracks with what makes the veteran right-hander effective at every level. “The calmness paired with the execution,” Turner said. “He can really pitch. You don’t see that as much anymore. A lot of guys are just throwing — he’s still got that old-school pitcher in him. That’s what makes him good, and that’s what he’s going to need to do going forward.” ...read more read less