The Philadelphia Phillies made it clear over the offseason that the team would like to rest starting catcher J.T. Realmuto more often in 2025 after the three-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove-winning backstop missed considerable time due to injuries last season. Following a three-season stretch that saw Realmuto catch 130-plus ballgames from 2021 to 2023, team officials want Realmuto to remain healthy in what could be his last season wearing a Phillies uniform.
Part of the problem with sitting Realmuto more this season has to do with making up for his missed presence in a lineup that already has plenty of question marks. Replacing a three-time Silver Slugger in any lineup is never easy, and despite some recent talk about Realmuto playing either left field or first base this season, there have been few indications so far in Clearwater that manager Rob Thomson is seriously considering such a move as evidenced by Realmuto starting all six spring training games at his natural position.
But that doesn't exactly mean the Phillies plan to abandon the idea of giving Realmuto more rest this season, and that's why many Phillies fans have shown interest in the position battle at backup catcher that's currently playing out between fan favorite Garrett Stubbs and former top catching prospect Rafael Marchán in spring training. With the Phillies looking for league-average offense or better from the backup catcher position this season, let's take a look at how the battle between Stubbs and Marchán is trending as Phillies spring training heads into the second week of March.
Garrett Stubbs or Rafael Marchán: Does anyone have the early edge in Phillies' backup catcher battle?
When the Phillies front office stated a desire to rest Realmuto more often this season, it was immediately believed that the team was ready to move on from Stubbs after a down season offensively in 2024. Stubbs could only manage a .207 batting average with one home run, 11 RBI and 34 hits last season in 164 plate appearances.
Despite those paltry numbers, the Phillies decided to tender him a contract this offseason that could see the six-year MLB veteran splitting his time between Philadelphia and Triple-A Lehigh Valley at times this season due to a remaining minor league option.
That being said, Stubbs has been more than holding his own at the plate so far in spring training, as he's currently batting .385, with five hits, three runs and three RBI's in 13 at-bats. While those numbers certainly don't jump off the page, Stubbs is making things interesting with an impressive showing at the dish so far. He's well aware that a solid spring could be the difference between backing up Realmuto again this season or spending time in the minors for the first time since playing in the Astros system in 2021.
It's easy to forget that Marchán was a top Phillies prospect only a few seasons ago, but a lot has changed since that time. Now the 26-year-old finds himself out of minor league options as the Phillies reach the midpoint of spring training play. After experiencing a series of injuries over the last couple of seasons, as well as being the odd man out on a crowded 40-man roster from 2021 through 2023, Marchán received a lengthy call-up last summer when Realmuto missed considerable time recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery. He didn't waste any time making a strong impression.
In 17 games in 2024, the switch hitter proved his bat could still be a factor at baseball's highest level by producing a .294 batting average, 15 hits, three home runs and six RBI over 51 MLB at-bats. Coming into spring training with his professional future hanging in the balance, Marchán has nearly matched Stubbs at the plate, batting .308 with four hits, one double and two RBI over his first 14 plate appearances. Like Stubbs, these aren't extraordinary numbers we're talking about, but in a small sample size, a healthy Marchán is doing his part to make it a legitimate competition.
There's still plenty of spring training baseball left to be played before the Phillies make their final roster decisions for Opening Day, and it's hard not to give the slight edge to Stubbs over Marchán at this point in camp, especially after Stubb's two-run RBI double lifted the Phillies to a 12-2 victory over the Orioles on Sunday. While the Phillies could also use Stubbs' option to give Marchán an extended look as Realmuto's backup early in the season, nothing is set in stone at this time.
With Marchán hitting from both sides of the plate, the team could also decide to be a little less top-heavy with left-handed batters this season. Either way, the decision to carry one of these guys is going to require a bold move that could see Stubbs starting the season in the minors or could signal the end of Marchán's time in the Phillies organization.