Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Doubles, scores run in win
Rotowire
Marchan went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored in Monday's 5-2 victory over the Marlins.
Marchan's playing time has been scarce in 2025 -- he's appeared in only 19 games -- but he's been effective lately when called upon to fill in for J.T. Realmuto as Philadelphia's backup catcher. Over his last 26 plate appearances (10 games), the switch-hitting backstop is slashing .261/.346/.478 with one home run, two doubles, three RBI and four runs scored. With Realmuto healthy, however, Marchan doesn't have a clear pathway to consistent at-bats.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Homers in opener
Rotowire
Marchan went 1-for-2 with a homer, three RBI and an additional run scored in the first game of Thursday's doubleheader with Atlanta.
Marchan opened the scoring Thursday with his first home run of the season, a two-run shot off AJ Smith-Shawver (elbow) in the third inning. Marchan would later drive in what would prove to be the game-winning run in the eighth, when he was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded. The 26-year-old backstop has seen limited playing time behind J.T. Realmuto this season, slashing just .152/.317/.242 with four runs scored and five RBI across 41 plate appearances.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Drawing fourth start of season
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Optioned to Triple-A
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Swats second homer
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Back in big leagues
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Sent back to Triple-A
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Will be 27th man
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Moves rehab up to Triple-A
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Opens season on IL
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Nursing back soreness
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Activated and optioned
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Cleared for rehab games
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Nears rehab assignment
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Dealing with bruised hamate
Rotowire
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
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.
... See More... See Less
Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Activated and optioned
Rotowire
The Phillies activated Marchan (hamstring) from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Monday, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
With J.T. Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs locked in as the top two catchers on the depth chart, the Phillies didn't have a spot on the 26-man active roster for Marchan, whose 20-day rehab window came to a close. He'll likely play on a regular basis at Lehigh Valley, with whom he slashed .235/.366/.412 in 10 games during his rehab assignment.
