Phillies Backup Catcher Battle Should Be Considered Settled

The Philadelphia Phillies backup catcher battle is not much of a competition. While Rafael Marchán still had to earn the job over Garrett Stubbs to backup J.T. Realmuto, it has effectively been decided for some time. Marchán is a notable Phillies player out of minor league options and Stubbs has a minor league option remaining. Unless there are injuries, Marchán will be the backup catcher on the Phillies opening day roster. Stubbs will likely end up starting the season with Triple-A Lehigh Valley to begin the season. Meanwhile, Realmuto and Marchán will be the catchers on the Phillies opening day roster unless something changes.

It’s Clear Who Will Be the Phillies Backup Catcher

In six spring training games, Marchán has posted a .308/.357/.385 line with no home runs and two RBI. He’s recorded a 98 wRC+ and a .338 wOBA this spring, along with a .364 BABIP. His strikeout rate is 14.3%, while his walk rate sits at 7.1%. Last season, in 17 MLB games, Marchán posted a .294/.345/.549 line with three home runs and six RBI. His wRC+ was 146, and his wOBA was .382. He had a .300 BABIP in the majors and a 14.3% strikeout rate, alongside a 5.4% walk rate. This led to a dilemma when Realmuto returned from injury last season.

Meanwhile, Stubbs has performed well in spring training, appearing in seven games with a .385/.529/.538 line, no home runs, and three RBI. His wRC+ stands at 190, and his wOBA is .483, while his BABIP is an impressive .455. Stubbs has an 11.8% strikeout rate and a 17.6% walk rate this spring. However, last season, in 56 games, he struggled offensively with a .207/.296/.262 line, one home run, and 11 RBI. His wRC+ was 63, and his wOBA was just .258, with a .289 BABIP. Stubbs also had a high 26.7% strikeout rate and a 9.1% walk rate. His lackluster performance at the plate has played a role in the shifting backup catcher competition.

Expected Increased Workload During The Regular Season

Realmuto is expected to see a decreased workload at catcher during the regular season, meaning the backup catcher will need to be ready for more frequent playing time. Marchán has dealt with injury issues in the past that have limited his minor league appearances. Last season, he played 55 games between the majors and minors, including 55 minor league games in 2023. The most games Marchán has played in a season came in 2021, when he appeared in 88 games. Staying healthy this season will be crucial for his role. Stubbs set a career high last season with 56 major league appearances, and in 2017, he played a career-best 98 minor league games.

Currently, Realmuto, Marchán, and Stubbs are the only catchers on the Phillies’ 40-man roster, leaving the team with limited organizational depth at the position. Aramis Garcia is no longer with the organization, meaning no other catcher has major league regular season experience. While Realmuto is likely to catch more games than most catchers, even with a reduced workload, Marchán appears positioned to secure the backup role due to his minor league options.

That said, Stubbs needs to be ready to step in if injury strikes. Stubbs has shown promise in spring training, but consistent offensive production from the backup catcher is crucial, and Marchán has the ability to provide that.