Key Takeaways
- Brandon Marsh hit his first career home run against a left‑handed starter, a milestone reflecting his increased role vs. lefties.
- Since joining the Phillies, Marsh posted a .794 OPS (third‑best on the team) and is currently batting .332, putting him in contention for the NL batting title.
- Marsh has cut his strikeout rate to 22.8% this year by swinging at 53% of pitches—up from 41.3% in 2024—and is achieving a .411 BABIP, one of the highest sustained marks in MLB history.
- Kyle Schwarber praised Marsh’s upside, noting both players followed similar arcs: highly touted prospects, early struggles, platoon roles, and a breakthrough under hitting coach Kevin Long.
- Marsh’s consistent performance makes him an All‑Star candidate despite never appearing on last year’s ballot.
Brandon Marsh achieved a personal milestone on Friday when he launched a home run off a left‑handed starting pitcher—a feat he had never accomplished in his Phillies tenure. The last time he homered against a southpaw starter was July 16, 2022, shortly before his trade from the Los Angeles Angels. Over five seasons in Philadelphia, Marsh has accumulated fewer than 100 plate appearances versus left‑handed starters, but recent circumstances have forced the club to give him more regular looks. The Phillies have yet to settle on a reliable platoon partner for Marsh, and his current level of play makes it untenable to keep him on the bench regardless of the opposition.
The organization has been waiting for this version of Marsh to emerge, and his teammate Kyle Schwarber was quick to acknowledge it. “To be honest with you, I’ve always seen it,” Schwarber said, indicating that Marsh’s potential has been evident for some time. Statistically, Marsh’s production since joining the Phillies backs up that sentiment. His .794 OPS since the trade ranks third among all Phillies players with at least 1,500 plate appearances, trailing only Schwarber and Bryce Harper. This season, his OPS has risen to .849, and he is currently leading the National League with a .332 batting average—a pace that could legitimately challenge for the batting title if he maintains it.
Marsh’s offensive profile has long been marked by a propensity to swing and miss. From 2021 through 2024, only five qualified major leaguers struck out at a higher rate than Marsh. This year, however, he has dramatically reduced that figure to 22.8% by simply swinging more often. He has offered at 53% of the pitches he sees, a career‑high and a significant jump from the 41.3% swing rate he posted in 2024. The increased aggressiveness has translated into better contact: Marsh is posting a .411 batting average on balls in play (BABIP) this year. Historically, only Ty Cobb has posted a higher career BABIP among players with at least 2,000 plate appearances, and Marsh’s large sample suggests the high BABIP is not merely luck but a reflection of his ability to consistently find gaps and turn balls into hits.
The parallels between Marsh and Schwarber extend beyond their current success. Both were highly regarded prospects who failed to meet expectations with their original organizations—Marsh with the Angels and Schwarber with the Cubs, who parted ways with him after a rough stretch during the COVID‑shortened 2020 season. Early in their careers, each found themselves in platoon roles, limited by perceived weaknesses against certain types of pitching. Their trajectories shifted dramatically after they began working with longtime hitting coach Kevin Long. Schwarber broke through with an OPS over .900 in his age‑28 season while with the Nationals, and Marsh is experiencing his best year to date at the same age, posting marked improvements in both power and average under Long’s tutelage.
Marsh speaks highly of Schwarber’s influence in the clubhouse, describing him as a role model whose endorsement carries weight. “Kyle’s a guy that a lot of us look up to in this clubhouse,” Marsh said. “Feeling like a lot of dudes in the league look up to him too. Hearing something like that from a guy like him is very special. Going to keep that one, store it and save it forever. He’s a 10 out of 10 dude and player.” Schwarber reciprocates the praise, noting that Marsh is tapping into a high ceiling and suggesting that an even better version of the outfielder could still emerge.
Thus far, Marsh has avoided any prolonged slump, maintaining steady production that keeps him in the conversation for an All‑Star nod—an impressive feat for a player who wasn’t even on the ballot last year. His combination of elevated contact rates, reduced strikeouts, and elite BABIP suggests that his current performance is sustainable rather than a flash‑in‑the‑pan. If he can continue to harness the adjustments made under Long’s guidance and maintain his aggressive approach, Marsh may not only secure a batting title but also cement himself as one of the premier offensive talents in the National League.