The 2025 season has not been kind to Brandon Marsh. After a horribly slow start to the season offensively, Marsh injured his knee making a fielding play in a game on April 16 and tried to play through it, which led to a right hamstring strain and a trip to the Injured List (IL). The 27-year-old went on the IL on April 20, but the move was back dated to April 17.

When he suffered the injury, Marsh was in an 0-for-31 slide. In 51 plate appearances this season, Marsh slashed .095/.220/.167 with the Phillies, which he admits is the deepest slump of his professional career. The downturn comes in a season where the Phillies were looking for Marsh to turn into their full-time center fielder without the need to come out of the lineup against left-handed pitchers. Instead, he has left the Phillies looking for other options and opened the door to an opportunity for Johan Rojas just a crack. For the most part, Rojas is taking advantage of the opportunity and is hitting .302 with a .348 on-base percentage in 17 games.

After two games with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs on a rehab assignment, Marsh is 1-for-6 (.167), but right now the test is more about just being healthy than it is the stats. Playing center field with the ‘Pigs, Marsh has had to make a few running plays defensively and stole a base in Thursday night’s win over Columbus. Marsh reports that he feels good physically and is just working to get back into the lineup with the Phillies and put the entire first month of the season well behind him.

Other than Rojas, the Phillies don’t have many options for their center field job. Prospect Justin Crawford (0-9-.305/.356/.411) is playing well with Lehigh Valley but is in his first season at Triple-A and still has a decent number of rough edges in his game. The flaws are nothing that some simple experience won’t cure, but having him play in the majors likely won’t happen until September or some time next season.

If all goes well for Marsh, he will continue to play center field for Lehigh Valley until he is eligible to come off the IL this coming week. At that point, the Phillies will have a choice to make as to who plays center field with the option of returning to a Marsh/Rojas platoon that they employed last season being one of the options.

Like many players, Marsh is certifiably superstitious. To find out more about his superstitions, including why he goes with the long hair and beard, read Tom Housenick’s story in the Allentown Morning Call.