Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Drawing fourth start of season
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Marchan will start at catcher and bat eighth in Wednesday's game against the Giants, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
After winning the backup catcher job coming out of spring training, Marchan has predictably seen sparse use over the first three weeks of the season while top backstop J.T. Realmuto has maintained good health. Marchan will pick up his fourth start of 2025 on Wednesday, with Realmuto getting a day off from catching and serving as the Phillies' designated hitter.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Favorite for backup job
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Marchan is favored to win the Phillies' backup catcher job this spring, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Marchan is a decent enough prospect on both sides of the ball who's been knocking on the door ever since 2020, when he appeared in three games and hit his first professional home run at any level. He hasn't done anything to force his way onto the roster, however, hitting .238/.328/.328 at the Triple-A level across parts of four seasons. The 25-year-old is now out of options, which could give him the leg up over career backup Garrett Stubbs, who offers little more than clubhouse leadership. With J.T. Realmuto now in his age-34 season and set to be a free agent, Marchan could be auditioning to be the catcher of the future this spring.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Optioned to Triple-A
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The Phillies optioned Marchan to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday, Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
J.T. Realmuto (knee) was activated from the injured list Saturday, squeezing Marchan off the big-league roster. The 25-year-old backstop owns a solid .894 OPS through 56 plate appearances with the Phillies, though he'll remain in the minors as long as Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs are both active.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Three hits, two doubles in win
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Marchan went 3-for-3 with two doubles, two runs scored and an RBI in Tuesday's 10-1 win over the Dodgers.
Marchan's been red hot, going 8-for-16 with four extra-base hits in his last four games. With J.T. Realmuto (knee) out, the 25-year-old Marchan has certainly made the most of the opportunity -- he's now slashing .313/.353/.583 with three homers, six RBI and eight runs scored through 52 plate appearances. He's likely earned the primary catching job over Garrett Stubbs for now, though Realmuto is expected to rejoin the Phillies following the All-Star break.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Swats second homer
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Marchan went 1-for-4 with a solo home run Thursday in a loss to the Marlins.
Marchan belted a solo shot in the fourth inning to give the Phillies a 2-0 lead. It was the backstop's second long ball over 30 plate appearances this season, which is as many homers as he hit across 224 plate appearances in the minors last year. Marchan has shown much more promise as a contact hitter than as a power hitter during his professional career, though three of his seven hits in the majors this year have gone for extra bases.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Has career day vs Padres
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Marchan went 4-for-4 with two RBI and two runs scored in Monday's 9-2 victory over the Padres.
In his third big-league game since 2021, Marchan had a banner night, reaching base in each of his four at-bats and driving in a pair. On Friday, he hit his first home run, and he followed it up nicely with this showing. With J.T. Realmuto going down with a knee injury, Marchan's only competition for playing time is Garrett Stubbs, whose current slash line of .191/.267/.206 leaves a lot to be desired.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Back in big leagues
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Marchan was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.
The 25-year-old was with the Phillies as the 27th man for the two-game series versus the Mets in London, and he's now fully on the big-league roster with J.T. Realmuto (knee) landing on the injured list. Marchan hasn't seen MLB action since 2021, but that will change the first time he operates as the backup to fill-in catcher Garrett Stubbs.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Sent back to Triple-A
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The Phillies returned Marchan to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday.
Marchan will head back to Lehigh Valley after he joined the Phillies over the weekend and served as the club's 27th man for its two-game set in London versus the Mets. He didn't appear in either contest and hasn't seen any big-league action since 2021.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Officially promoted
Rotowire
The Phillies recalled Marchan from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Saturday.
Marchan will come up from the minors to serve as Philadelphia's 27th man during its two-game series with the Mets in London. Starter J.T. Realmuto has taken a beating behind the plate over the past several days, though it's still unlikely Marchan sees much action over the weekend, if any.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Will be 27th man
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Marchan will be recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to serve as the 27th man during this weekend's series in London against the Mets, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
J.T. Realmuto has been a little dinged up recently, so the Phillies have opted to carry a third catcher this weekend as insurance. Marchan will almost certainly be sent back down to Lehigh Valley early next week.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Moves rehab up to Triple-A
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The Phillies transferred Marchan's (back) rehab assignment from Single-A Clearwater to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday and went 1-for-2 with a walk in his first game with the latter affiliate.
Marchan missed all of spring training and began the season on the Phillies' 10-day injured list with a back issue. He played four rehab games with Clearwater, going 3-for-11 with a home run. With J.T. Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs holding down the catching duties with the Phillies, Marchan is likely to be optioned to Lehigh Valley once he comes off the IL.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Opens season on IL
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The Phillies placed Marchan on the 10-day injured list Thursday with lower-back pain.
The back issue cropped up early in spring training and was initially expected to be a day-to-day concern, but Marchan was never able to show enough improvement to play in any Grapefruit League games. With Marchan opening the season on the injured list, Garrett Stubbs is locked in as the No. 2 backstop behind JT Realmuto.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Nursing back soreness
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Marchan is battling through some lower-back discomfort, Scott Lauber of The Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
It looks to be a day-to-day issue. Marchan is third on the Phillies' catching depth chart and has an option year remaining, so he's slated to open the year at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Activated and optioned
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Philadelphia activated Marchan (hand/wrist) from the 60-day injured list Tuesday and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Marchan is recovered from March surgery to repair a fractured right hamate bone, but the Phillies will continue to roll with J.T. Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs as their major-league catching tandem.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Cleared for rehab games
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Marchan (hand/wrist) is beginning a rehab assignment Tuesday with Single-A Clearwater.
Marchan was placed on the 60-day injured list before the start of the 2023 regular season after requiring surgery for a fractured right hamate bone. He figures to require a large number of minor-league at-bats and might ultimately be stationed at Triple-A Lehigh Valley once he's deemed fully fit.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Nears rehab assignment
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Marchan (hand/wrist) is on track to begin a minor-league rehab assignment Sunday, Corey Seidman of NBC Sports Philadelphia reports.
Marchan suffered a fractured right hamate bone at Phillies camp this spring, but he has made steady progress since undergoing surgery and is about ready for live competition. The 24-year-old catcher could eventually challenge Garrett Stubbs for the backup job behind J.T. Realmuto.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Placed on 60-day IL
Rotowire
Marchan (hand/wrist) was placed on the 60-day injured list Thursday.
Marchan was initially believed to have a bruised right hamate bone, but further testing has revealed a fracture. Garrett Stubbs will open as the backup catcher for the Phillies behind J.T. Realmuto.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Dealing with bruised hamate
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Marchan is nursing a bruised right hamate bone in Phillies camp, Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports.
That explains why Marchan hasn't played in a Grapefruit League game since last Tuesday. He can't hit right now, per Gelb, and it's unclear whether this issue might linger into the regular season. Garrett Stubbs (knee) is also currently sidelined, so the Phillies are down their No. 2 and No. 3 catchers with Opening Day fast approaching.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Heading back to Triple-A
Rotowire
Marchan was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after Wednesday's loss to the Blue Jays.
The 23-year-old was promoted Tuesday since starting catcher J.T. Realmuto can't enter Canada due to his vaccination status. Garrett Stubbs started both games behind the plate for the Phillies, so Marchan will return to the minors without making his season debut.
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Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Called up Tuesday
Rotowire
Marchan was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday.
The 23-year-old will join the big-league club for the two-game series in Toronto this week since starting catcher J.T. Realmuto is unable to enter Canada due to his vaccination status. Marchan has a .632 OPS in 20 big-league games this year and should fill a backup role behind Garrett Stubbs.
