One of the top storylines in Philadelphia Phillies spring training reached its conclusion on Thursday following the announcement that Phillies longtime backup catcher Garrett Stubbs was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin the 2025 regular season. The popular backstop had built up a cult following with fans with his postgame celebrations, but his poor offensive play and a reinforced desire to rest starting catcher J.T. Realmuto more this season were the primary motivations behind this decision.
The writing was on the wall for Stubbs due to his remaining minor league option. Newly crowned backup catcher Rafael Marchán came into spring training camp out of minor league options after being sent back and forth between Triple-A and the big league club off and on since the 2020 season. The former top prospect came into camp with a legitimate shot at winning a roster spot, and after hitting .261, with six hits and three RBI in 23 spring training at-bats, officially unseated Stubbs as the Phillies backup catcher.
Prior to today’s game, the Phillies optioned C Garrett Stubbs to Lehigh Valley (AAA)
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 20, 2025
Rafael Marchán has heartwarming response to new backup catcher role with Phillies
While Stubbs' spring numbers (.287, six hits) were fairly close to Marchán's in exhibition play, the Phillies' front office clearly believes that Marchán has the better chance to add some offensive thump and can capably handle the pitching staff in Realmuto's absence this season. And now after a half decade of roster gridlock and slew of tough luck injuries, Marchán couldn't hold back his excitement when he spoke to MLB.com's Dawn Klemish about making the Phillies' 26-man Opening Day roster.
“I’m just happy,” Marchán said on Thursday, per Klemish. ”I’ve been waiting for this for so long. I’ve been with this team for a while, and it makes me feel like I’m doing a good job to be part of this group.”
After falling out of the Phillies' plans after brief stints at the MLB level during parts of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, Marchán offered skeptics a reminder of his offensive skill set during a solid 17-game stretch with the big club last season where he hit .294, with 15 hits, four doubles, six home runs and six RBI in 51 at-bats. With Realmuto sidelined from June until the All-Star break, Marchán reopened the switch-hitting backup catcher discussion with his solid play.
Ring it, Rafael!!#RingTheBell pic.twitter.com/t4AfHX8tpe
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) June 27, 2024
Marchán was happy with the results of his hard work in Phillies camp this spring.
“That's [also] something that I've been feeling really, really proud of, because I put a lot of work in the offseason to be decent at this point,” added Marchán per Klemish.
Now that Marchán has won the backup catcher position, he's going to have plenty of motivation to perform at a high level now that he's out of minor league options. But Marchán has shown that his bat shouldn't be a problem at the big league level, and if health isn't an issue for him this season, it's not unreasonable to think that the Phillies former "catcher of the future" will form a solid tandem with Realmuto behind the plate this season.