Here’s why the Phillies decided to stick with the veteran for the remainder of the season.
When catcher J.T. Realmuto’s injury was announced, many Phillies supporters were concerned about what would happen behind the plate while he recovered. The Phillies planned to pair backup catcher Garrett Stubbs with Rafael Marchán, the organization’s next-best catcher and a major league veteran.
Marchán was quite excellent, not only defensively, as he has been throughout his career, but also offensively. During Realmuto’s absence, the 25-year-old batted.294 with a.894 OPS in 56 plate appearances, hitting three home runs. Stubbs, the other possibility at catcher, was nearly as good at first, batting.302 until going into a horrible slump on July 2.
With the starting backstop out, the Phillies finished 17-15, with little to no drop-off in play from the catcher position.
Even from behind the plate, Marchán had the advantage. As of July 10, Phillies pitchers had a 0.16 lower ERA behind the plate, with Marchan ahead of Stubbs (3.63 versus 3.79). In most cases, it appeared that the Venezuelan was the man for the job.
The Phillies confirm their reasoning for keeping Garrett Stubbs as the backup.
However, when Realmuto returned to the active roster, Marchán was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Many fans were surprised, but the Phillies had larger plans for the young catcher.
According to Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation, manager Rob Thomson discussed Stubbs and Marchán’s decision over the weekend.
“He [Marchán] showed us everything we needed to see, but he needs to play,” Thomson told Lugardo. “He should be ready to play every day. We just thought that was a good idea. Stubby has done an excellent job as well. He’s been here for a few years, and you know how important Stubby is in the clubhouse, but Marchán needs to play, and that’s the most important thing.”
As the Phillies now lead the MLB with the best record, which backup catcher is on the roster will have minimal impact on the overall picture. The Phillies believe they can get more value out of both catchers in their current roles: Stubbs as a great clubhouse presence with a competent glove, and Marchán as your daily catcher in the near future. The more at-bats in the minors will result in faster progression.
The other main reason for Stubbs’ inclusion on the 26-man roster is his vocality. Stubbs is an active leader in the clubhouse, on the field, in public, and anywhere you see Phillies baseball. The 31-year-old catcher serves as a player, coach, and media personality for the team.
Down the stretch, Realmuto is likely to take a few more days off to prepare for the postseason, in which he will play every game, rendering the backup catcher argument moot. Between 2022 and 2023, Stubbs had no at-bats in any playoff series. The future, however, is wide open.
Garrett Stubbs has the backup job for now.
Realmuto’s contract expires after the 2025 season, providing an opportunity for competition. Marchán was a top-5 prospect in the Phillies system as recently as 2021, and, as Thomson stated, he had a major league-caliber bat and glove. Consistency and repetition must come first, though.
Marchán has faced numerous challenges on his journey to this point. The last three seasons, when he was anticipated to bloom into a major league backstop, were injury-riddled, causing him to miss significant periods with a variety of maladies.
While the Phillies are vying for their third consecutive National League Championship, this move is more about ensuring the position’s future than the present. Marchán demonstrated a lot of promise in his brief action and has earned the opportunity to become not just the backup catcher next year, but also the starting catcher as early as 2026.
