Minor-league week in review: Rafael Marchan makes season debut

After missing the start of the season due to injury, catcher Rafael Marchan made his 2022 debut in the latest week of the minor-league season.

The 23-year-old joined the High-A Jersey Shore BlueClaws on a rehab assignment on Wednesday, marking his first game action since straining his left hamstring in spring training. Marchan played four games in the team’s series against Greenville.

The BlueClaws are now 16-27 on the season; the Low-A Clearwater Threshers are 23-21, the Double-A Reading Fightin Phils are 19-26; the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs are 25-23.

Marchan makes return

Stepping on the field for the first time since last season, Marchan doubled and drew two walks for the BlueClaws on Wednesday. He caught again the next day, but went 0-for-4.

Rafael Marchan nearly picks up his first career minor league home run, but he settles for a one-out double for Jersey Shore in his rehab stint pic.twitter.com/R0uFNboVqE

— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) May 28, 2022

After a day off, Marchan doubled again as the DH on Saturday, and he singled as the catcher on Sunday. Through four games, he’s gone 3-for-13 with two walks, two doubles and a run scored.

With Marchan still on the 60-day, major-league injured list, the Phillies will have a decision to make at the end of the glove-first backstop’s rehab assignment. He bounced between Triple-A and the majors last year after playing three games in the bigs in 2020. But with backup catcher Garrett Stubbs performing for the Phillies and Donny Sands hitting well for the IronPigs, Marchan may end up the odd man out at either level.

Wingrove makes most of promotion

First baseman Rixon Wingrove also made his first BlueClaws apperance of the season in the team’s latest series, moving up to Jersey Shore last Tuesday after starting the year with the Threshers.

The Australian prospect hit home runs in three straight games played on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday, his first three homers of the season.

Rixon Wingrove has homered in 3 consecutive games played for Jersey Shore. He started the year 3 for 27 with Clearwater, but since being promoted to Jersey Shore this week he’s 7 for 15 with 3 HRs pic.twitter.com/g0kB1SloI3

— Mitch Rupert (@Mitch_Rupert) May 29, 2022

Wingrove played rookie ball in the Phillies organization in 2018, 2019 and part of 2021, before finishing last season in Low-A. After a slow start in Clearwater this year, he’s taken advantage of his first taste of High-A so far, hitting .368 last week.

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