The Philadelphia Phillies outfielder is recovering from arthroscopic left knee surgery, which he underwent on Feb. 9. At the time, the Phillies said they believed Marsh would be ready for Opening Day on March 28, and it sounds very much like that’s still the case.
“Yeah, so he had five at-bats again today,” Thomson said of Marsh Saturday. “So he’s had mid-20s at-bats, just BP at-bats. Tomorrow, I believe he’s gonna DH in the player development intrasquad game. So he’ll get some at-bats there and actually run out of the box. So we’re making progress.”
As far as when Marsh could make his 2024 Grapefruit League debut, Thomson said “possibly middle to end of next week.”
As far as when Marsh could make his 2024 Grapefruit League debut, Thomson said “possibly middle to end of next week.”
The 26-year-old slashed .277/.372/.458 with six triples, 60 RBIs and an .829 OPS for the Phillies in 2023, his first full season with the club. Marsh projects to be an Opening Day starter, although it’s not yet clear whether that will be in left or center field.
Johan Rojas made a tremendous catch Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays to rob Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of an extra-base hit. But while he did a better job of seeing pitches Saturday than he previously had, Rojas still went 0-for-3, and now has just five hits in 27 at-bats this spring.
If Rojas is ultimately optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to open the season, Marsh may be the starting center fielder on Opening Day, with any of Whit Merrifield, Cristian Pache, Jake Cave or David Dahl in left field. It’s also possible that Pache could play center field, with Marsh in left field.
