The Philadelphia Phillies’ dramatic turnaround has been impressive. After a 9-19 start under Rob Thomson, he was let go and Don Mattingly took over as interim manager. Since Mattingly’s arrival, the team has gone 27-11 and climbed into the National League’s second wild card position.
Many players have fueled this resurgence, but outfielder Brandon Marsh has arguably been the most consistent. That makes his omission from an early MLB All-Star prediction list all the more puzzling.
Voting has just begun, and the Phillies are expected to have several All-Star representatives. Jim Bowden of The Athletic (subscription required) recently named his picks, including four of Marsh’s teammates: first baseman Bryce Harper, designated hitter Kyle Schwarber, starting pitcher Cristopher Sanchez, and closer Jhoan Duran.
Brandon Marsh deserves All-Star consideration
Each of those four is certainly worthy. But since MLB mandates at least one representative per team, some deserving players inevitably get left out of the Midsummer Classic—and in Bowden’s first roster projection, that’s what happens to Marsh. The National League roster includes three right fielders, three center fielders, and one left fielder.
The starters are James Wood (Nationals) in right, Andy Pages (Dodgers) in center, and Juan Soto (Mets) in left. The reserves are Corbin Carroll (Diamondbacks), Jordan Walker (Cardinals), Michael Harris II (Braves), and Pete Crow-Armstrong (Cubs).
Marsh faces some tough luck here. Walker, Crow-Armstrong, and Soto are each the sole representative for their teams. For Marsh to improve his chances, one of their teammates would need to emerge as a stronger candidate to replace them. Soto is almost a lock regardless, and Walker is having a breakout age-24 season. Crow-Armstrong was chosen mainly for elite defense, so he might be more vulnerable.
Much can change before the final All-Star rosters are announced, and Marsh will keep building his case. Through 61 games and 232 plate appearances, he’s slashing .333/.366/.514 with a 139 OPS+. All of those would be career highs if sustained. His 22.8% strikeout rate is a personal best, and his 3.4% home run rate ties his career high. He continues to post an extraordinary .405 batting average on balls in play this year.
As a uniquely productive and well-rounded player, an All-Star nod would cement his place among the game’s elite.
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