Mar 11, 2026; Houston, TX, United States; Italy starting pitcher Aaron Nola (27) pitches against Mexico in the first inning at Daikin Park. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images
CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Bryson Stott, Trea Turner and Garrett Stubbs were sitting in the hot tubs at BayCare Ballpark on Thursday Morning, and the topic of conversation was Aaron Nola.
They were impressed with his pitching but were equally perplexed by his nickname that was revealed on the broadcast.
It was during Italy's 9-1 win in the World Baseball Classic (WBC), when FS1 broadcaster Dan Plesac said that Aaron Nola, whose curveball was as sharp as ever in the game, was known in South Philly as "Captain Hook."
"I specifically remember saying out loud at the time that I've never heard anybody call Nola Captain Hook," Stubbs said. "But maybe I just haven't been paying enough attention."
Stubbs, who along with Edmundo Sosa were the veteran players who were back in the clubhouse for the first time on Thursday morning after their own experiences in the WBC, said he also doesn't think it's a nickname that will stick.
"Maybe jokingly," he said.
"In South Philly they refer to Nola as Captain Hook"? Does South Philly know that?
Although Orion Kerkering thinks there's a chance it has some legs, even if it won't be one that will particularly be used in the clubhouse.
"With some Phillies fans, they'll probably make some T-shirts here soon about it," Kerkering said. "I think it'd be kind of funny."
WE are going to start calling Aaron Nola “Captain Hook”
Maybe, but all the joking aside, Nola impressed his teammates, throwing five shutout innings in a must-win game against Mexico that lead Team Italy to finish as one of just three teams to have a perfect 4-0 record in pool play, and the country's first pool victory.
""He was just awesome," Stubbs said. "You can just kind of see where he's back to his old self after last year was kind of an injury year."
Stubbs was most impressed with Nola's pitching against Mariners outfielder Randy Arozarena in the bottom of the first.
Nola threw Arozarena a 2-2 sinker (that hit 94.5 mph on the gun, which is especially fast for Nola in general, but really impressive for mid-March). He missed with that sinker off the plate, running the count full.
What came next was no surprise to anyone.
"I know he's throwing a curveball, Randy Arozarena knows he's throwing a curveball, I think everyone knows he's throwing a curveball," Stubbs said. "And still, he threw it down and away and just off the plate and gets a swing and miss.
"When you see guys like that have that kind of stuff, especially this early ... it's so encouraging. The velocity, the stuff, the command... it was impressive."
Nola later struck out Arozarena again in the fourth inning, on another curveball away for a foul tip strike three. Those were two of five strikeouts Nola threw in the outing.
Usually a guy that needs to ramp up at the start of the year and who tends to pitch better once the weather starts to warm, Nola had the worst year of his career in 2025.
Saddled with ankle and rib injuries for much of the season, the usually reliable and durable Nola only made 17 starts and threw just 94 1/3 innings. both career lows in seasons where he started the year on the Opening Day roster (excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020 season).
He also had his worst ERA (6.01) and highest WHIP (1.346) in his Major League Career.
In his first 10 seasons in the majors, Nola was, on average, a 3.6 WAR pitcher. In 2025 he was a career-worst minus-0.3.
So, its no question that 2026 could be a bit of a redemption tour for the 32-year-old who is signed for five more seasons (through 2030).
And while statistics in March don't always translate to the regular season, it's worth pointing out what Nola has done so far.
He's made three starts - one against the Miami Marlins on Feb. 27, a WBC tune-up against Team Canada (also a Pool winner advancing to the knockout round), and against Team Mexico in the WBC on Wednesday.
Combined, Nola has thrown 10 innings, allowed just one run on 10 hits and one walk and has 11 strikeouts.
His fastball has more life in March than even his best seasons as a Phillie, and his curveball is still one of the best in the sport.
How he's handled himself this spring coming off of the worst season of his career has not been a surprise to anyone who knows him, but it's also making an impression on younger pitchers, especially a guy like Kerkering, who had his own down year in 2025, that ended in the worst way possible.
"I look at last year and I know it wasn't the best year for me," Kerkering said. "Same with [Nola] and yet it hasn't changed him as a person. It's just great that he doesn't let one bad year change his whole career. Maybe it was a fluke year and let's see what he can do this time and prove some people wrong."
Sounds like something Kerkering is thinking about, too.
Time will tell on both, but what the eyeballs are seeing so far with Nola, both when he was in camp and on the world stage in the WBC, has to be considered encouraging for a Phillies team built on starting pitching strength.
Aaron Nola saved the USA.
Aaron Nola threw 5 scoreless innings.
Aaron Nola had 5 strikeouts.
Aaron Nola was calling his own pitches.
Aaron Nola touched 94mph more than once.
Aaron Nola is “Captain Hook.” pic.twitter.com/fRKmlh6yOB
As for the nickname, we'll have to wait for Nola to return from the WBC to see if he approves, but this could simply fizzle out as quickly as it arrived on the collective conscience of the Phillies and their fans.
As long as the velocity and command don't fizzle out, then Nola, the Phillies, and everyone else will be just fine with that.
