Philly Leader

The Philadelphia Phillies are planning to give Brandon Marsh an opportunity to play as the everyday center fielder this season, including facing left-handed pitchers. This decision comes despite Marsh having fewer than 110 plate appearances against left-handers in any season since he joined the team in 2022.

In comparison, fellow left-handed hitters Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, and Bryson Stott faced more left-handed pitchers last year with 248, 226, and 129 plate appearances respectively.

Marsh has been performing well this spring, batting .290 with one home run, one double, four RBIs, 12 walks, six strikeouts, and a .907 OPS. Against lefties specifically, he is hitting .429 with one double and three walks. Notable performances include his double and walk against Yankees' Carlos Rodón and singles against reigning AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.

“I see the offseason work paying off a little bit,” Marsh commented on his recent performance.

Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long expressed satisfaction with Marsh's progress: “Those are really good tests for him... And he’s answered it.”

Marsh was surprised by his success against left-handers this spring. He stated that he avoids focusing on statistics to maintain focus during games. “I do my best not to look at the numbers,” he said.

During the offseason, Marsh worked closely with Long at Howie Kendrick’s house in Arizona to improve his performance against left-handed pitching. They practiced using a pitching machine simulating left-handed deliveries.

“He got after it,” Long noted about Marsh's commitment during training sessions.

Long emphasized the importance of practicing against breaking balls for consistency: “We did a lot more machine work because of breaking balls.”

Marsh admitted to initially disliking machine work due to discomfort but acknowledged its benefits: “Just because … I guess you could say I was soft in that aspect.”

If Marsh continues to handle lefties well into the season starting March 27th in Washington D.C., he will likely remain in the lineup against them. However, if struggles arise, Johan Rojas might be considered as an alternative option for the fourth outfielder position.

“I feel like the work has transferred well into the spring,” Marsh concluded about his readiness for Opening Day.