Brandon Marsh could be a real weapon for the Phillies if he can improve one thing

Outfield production has been an inconsistency for the Philadelphia Phillies over the course of the 2024 season. Brandon Marsh has been at the center of the outfield production conversation.

The 26-year-old outfielder has certainly had his ups-and-downs this season. As a player who was brought in to be versatile in the outfield and a bat that was a work in progress, Marsh has yet to really dig in as an everyday player in the Phillies' potent lineup.

There is one area that stands out that is holding the outfielder back from being a more permanent part of the club's offense.

Brandon Marsh could be a real weapon for the Phillies if he can improve one thing

Strikeouts and chasing pitches outside of the zone have been the bane of Phillies' hitters for years. Marsh is no exception. In fact, he has perhaps been the hitter in the lineup that has had the most evident strikeout issues in 2024.

Of all MLB hitters with at least 350 plate appearances, there are only four other players who have a higher strikeout percentage than Marsh (33.9 percent) this season. Since coming to the Phillies, that is the highest strikeout rate that the left-handed hitting outfielder has experienced. In 2022 and 2023, he posted 29.7 percent and 30.5 percent strikeout rates, respectively.

The second half has been particularly difficult for Marsh to stay disciplined at the plate. Since the middle point of the season, he has struck out an astounding 38.5 percent of the time.

The increase in strikeouts has led to a decrease in other important numbers. For instance, in the second half of the season, Marsh is hitting just .209 with a .661 OPS before Friday, compared to a .263 average and .781 OPS in the first half.

Over the course of his career, Marsh has struck out more than the average player. However, if he could cut back on those rates and make more contact, there is an argument that he could be a formidable hitter in this line up.

An interesting bit of information that is encouraging to see regarding the platooned outfielder is that Marsh's career .375 BABIP is higher than any other major league player in the last century. When he puts the ball in play, he has the ability to make things happen.

Thursday night's comeback victory against the Atlanta Braves was a prime example of Marsh's capabilities. He struck out in his first two at-bats but hit a game-changing home run to left center field to bring the Phillies back to within one run, setting them up to surge back from an early 4-0 deficit.

During his rough second half, Marsh's BABIP is .300 compared to .368 in the first half. The key for Marsh is to cut back on the strikeouts and put the bat on the ball. He can be an effective player with the correct approach. At just 26 years old, there is still time for him to correct his flaws and become a solid everyday MLB hitter.