Catcher Rafael Marchán returns to action, could be important boost to Phillies’ depth

Rafael Marchán has started a rehab assignment. (Cheryl Pursell)

Catcher Rafael Marchán, out since spring training with a back issue, returned to action in the minor leagues this past week, offering a positive development for the Phillies’ depth behind the plate.

Marchán began a rehab assignment for Single-A Clearwater last Tuesday to get on the field for the first time this regular season. He played four games for the Threshers in their last series, three at catcher and one as the DH. The switch-hitting backstop went 3-for-11 with a home run, three walks and a hit-by-pitch.

More important than the results, though, is just the fact that he’s out there. Marchán, 25, has battled injuries throughout the last handful of seasons. The Phillies needed him in a pinch in 2020 when he memorably hit his first professional home run in a big-league game at Citizens Bank Park, then needed him again in 2021 for 20 games.

Aside from a two-game series in 2022 when J.T. Realmuto wasn’t permitted to enter Canada and play in Toronto due to a COVID-19 vaccine requirement, Marchán hasn’t spent any time on the Phillies roster. He hasn’t appeared in a major-league game since 2021. Garrett Stubbs has been entrenched as Philadelphia’s backup catcher since he arrived two seasons ago, but Marchán just hasn’t been available enough to challenge that.

Marchán has missed time with a hamstring strain in 2022, a hamate fracture last year and lower back pain this season. He’s played 129 games over the last three seasons, 12 of those being rehab appearances in the lower minors.

Now, a healthy Marchán could prove important for the Phillies this season as Stubbs has massively struggled as a hitter — not that the team seems in any rush to demote him — and Realmuto missed a few games with knee soreness earlier this month. If one of Stubbs or Realmuto were to go down, there’s no obvious replacement in Triple-A at the moment.

Aramis Garcia had a hot spring, but has a .439 OPS for Lehigh Valley. Cody Roberts has only played seven games with three separate stints on the development list, although he played three times in the past week with a homer and a double. José Godoy hasn’t performed in his limited playing time for the IronPigs. Unlike Marchán, none of those three catchers are on the 40-man roster.

Marchán is the obvious top depth choice once he’s back to full strength — assuming he can get there. As shown by Kody Clemens’ success in recent weeks for the Phillies, a fill-in from the minors can certainly make an impact for a big-league club. As the catcher in the organization with the highest potential to help in a similar way, Marchán’s progression will be worth noting.