Brandon Marsh
Coming into his fourth season at the MLB level, Phillies fans hoped to see Brandon Marsh finally prove that he is more than just a platoon player and was ready to assume a full-time role as the team's everyday left fielder. The charismatic 26-year-old has garnered a cult following in Philadelphia since being acquired at the trade deadline in 2022 from the Los Angeles Angels. With a personality that plays well to the camera, his long hair and chest length beard have made him a fan favorite over the last three seasons.
But baseball is a results-driven business, and while Marsh put up a decent stat line of .249 with 104 hits, 16 home runs, and 60 RBI in 418 at-bats, his numbers against left-handed pitching showed little sign of improvement in 2024. The problem wasn't a case of lacking opportunities either. Against his better judgment, manager Rob Thomson penciled Marsh into the lineup against southpaws for most of the season.
In 90 at-bats against left-handed pitchers this season, Marsh batted a paltry .192, managing 15 hits, one home run, and eight RBI while striking out an alarming 33 times. It was in the team's best interest to see if more reps against lefties would unlock greater pitch recognition, and on that end, the experiment can be categorized as a complete failure. Marsh's failures in these situations are one thing, but Thomson clearly didn't do the team any favors by continuing to trot him out there.
When the Phillies acquired Marsh at the trade deadline in 2022, they parted with top catching prospect Logan O' Hoppe in what was essentially a swap of two young players who both carried significant potential. With Marsh still struggling to hit left-handed pitching, the deal looks lopsided if Marsh's ceiling ultimately stalls with him becoming a full-time platoon player.
While the Phillies could look to swing a deal involving Marsh this offseason while he's still a year away from being arbitration-eligible, the best-case scenario is that Marsh puts in the work to improve against left-handed pitching over the winter.