Categories: Phillies Nuggets with Tim Kelly

Phillies Nuggets: The latest on Marsh, Merrifield and more

Brandon Marsh at Spring Training on March 8, 2024. (Grace Del Pizzo/Phillies Nation)

CLEARWATER, Fla — It sounds as though Brandon Marsh could be in one of Rob Thomson’s Spring Training lineups relatively soon.

The Philadelphia Phillies outfielder is recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery, which he underwent on Feb. 9. At the time, the Phillies said they believed Marsh would be ready for Opening Day on March 28, and it sounds very much like that’s still the case.

“Yeah, so he had five at-bats again today,” Thomson said of Marsh Saturday. “So he’s had mid-20s at-bats, just BP at-bats. Tomorrow, I believe he’s gonna DH in the player development intrasquad game. So he’ll get some at-bats there and actually run out of the box. So we’re making progress.”

As far as when Marsh could make his 2024 Grapefruit League debut, Thomson said “possibly middle to end of next week.”

The 26-year-old slashed .277/.372/.458 with six triples, 60 RBIs and an .829 OPS for the Phillies in 2023, his first full season with the club. Marsh projects to be an Opening Day starter, although it’s not yet clear whether that will be in left or center field.

Johan Rojas made a tremendous catch Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays to rob Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of an extra-base hit. But while he did a better job of seeing pitches Saturday than he previously had, Rojas still went 0-for-3, and now has just five hits in 27 at-bats this spring.

If Rojas is ultimately optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to open the season, Marsh may be the starting center fielder on Opening Day, with any of Whit Merrifield, Cristian Pache, Jake Cave or David Dahl in left field. It’s also possible that Pache could play center field, with Marsh in left field.

In any event, the Phillies are a better team when Marsh’s energy is around. And it sounds as though he and his beard could soon be back in red pinstripes.

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The Nuggets

Speaking of Merrifield, he had “some personal things to deal with” that have kept him away from the Phillies for a few days, but Thomson said he will be back in Clearwater Saturday evening.

Pache hasn’t appeared in a Grapefruit League game since March 5, as he’s been battling the bug that went through the Phillies clubhouse this week.

Taijuan Walker’s fastball sat around 89-90 mph during his two-inning start against the Blue Jays Saturday. Both he and Thomson were happy with that velocity for his first spring action, but know it will have to pick up by the regular season. Early-game velocity issues plagued Walker a year ago, when he posted an ERA at 7.04 in the first inning. He said Saturday that he hopes to be at 94-95 mph in the first inning in 2024, while Thomson said 92-93 mph in the opening frame is what he’s hopeful for.

Cristopher Sánchez is one of many Phillies working his way back from the bug, and has been present at BayCare Ballpark the last couple of days. Thomson says that the team’s presumed No. 5 starter will throw a live batting practice session either Sunday or Monday.

Also coming back from the illness is Orion Kerkering. He threw a short bullpen on Friday, and it sounds like he’ll throw another one before returning to game action.