Wikipedia

Brandon Marsh (baseball)

Not to be confused with Brandon Marsh nature reserve.

Brandon Chase Marsh[1] (born December 18, 1997) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Los Angeles Angels.

Brandon Marsh
Marsh with the Los Angeles Angels in 2021
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 16
Outfielder
Born: (1997-12-18) December 18, 1997 (age 26)
Buford, Georgia, U.S.
Bats: Left
Throws: Right
MLB debut
July 18, 2021, for the Los Angeles Angels
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.256
Home runs41
Runs batted in191
Stolen bases45
Teams

Born in Buford, Georgia, Marsh was a multi-sport athlete at Buford High School, where he won a state championship title as a junior. The Angels selected him in the second round of the 2016 MLB Draft, but he missed the 2016 season with a back injury. After debuting with the Orem Owlz in 2017, Marsh progressed through the Angels' farm system, including a breakout turn with the Southern League in 2019. When the 2020 Minor League Baseball season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Marsh was invited to continue his development at an alternate training site.

Marsh made his MLB debut in 2021 as a replacement for injured outfielders Mike Trout and Justin Upton. After a slow start to his major league career, he improved offensively throughout the season. Marsh made the Angels' Opening Day roster in 2022 as part of a platoon of corner outfielders, but he was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies partway through the season.

Early life

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Marsh was born on December 18, 1997, in Buford, Georgia,[1] to Jake and Sonja Marsh.[2] A multisport athlete, he grew up playing American football, basketball, and baseball. Over four years at Buford High School, Marsh grew from 5 feet 9 inches (1.75 m) to 6 feet 4 inches (1.93 m), and he only attracted the attention of college recruiters after growing into his larger frame.[3] During his junior baseball season, Marsh batted .370 with 15 runs batted in (RBI). He and teammate Joey Bart, a future Major League Baseball (MLB) catcher, took Buford to a Georgia High School Association state championship title.[3][4] The following season, Marsh batted .559 with three home runs and 25 RBI. Buford reached the state championship again, where they fell to Locust Grove High School.[4]

Professional career

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Draft and minor leagues (2016–2021)

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The Los Angeles Angels selected Marsh out of high school in the second round, 60th overall, of the 2016 MLB Draft. At the time, he had committed to play college baseball for the Kennesaw State Owls.[5] Although he initially told reporters that he would not sign with the team,[6] Marsh ultimately chose to forgo his college commitment, taking a $1.07 million signing bonus with Los Angeles to begin his professional baseball career.[7] Marsh was assigned to the AZL Angels, a Rookie-level team in the Los Angeles farm system, but he was soon diagnosed with an asymptomatic back injury and spent the season on the disabled list. Instead, Marsh spent the offseason practicing in the Arizona Instructional League, the Dominican Republic, and the Angels' minor league spring training facility.[8] Marsh made his professional debut with the Orem Owlz in 2017,[9] where he batted .533 with eight runs scored and six RBI in his first three Pioneer League games.[10] On June 28, only seven games into his professional career, Marsh sprained his thumb while sliding into a base.[11][12] He missed one month with the injury, returning on July 28 and finishing the season with a .350 batting average, 22 extra-base hits, and 44 RBI in 39 games.[13]

Marsh began the 2018 baseball season with the Burlington Bees, the Angels' Low-A affiliate. After going 1-for-11 to start the season, Marsh went on an eight-game hitting streak, finishing April with a .299 batting average.[14] After batting .296 with three home runs and 24 RBI in 34 Midwest League games, Marsh was promoted to the Class A-Advanced Inland Empire 66ers on May 18.[15][16] He struggled with the transition to the California League, going 3-for-41 in his first 10 games,[13] and at the end of May, hitting coordinators worked with Marsh to shorten his swing and improve his pitch contact.[17] He finished the season batting .256 in 93 California League games, with seven home runs and 46 RBI in 371 at bats.[15]

 
Marsh with the Angels in 2019

The Angels invited Marsh to spring training in 2019, and after batting .240 in the Cactus League, he began the season in Double-A with the Mobile BayBears. He struggled early in the season, batting .200 in his first 22 Southern League games, but improved to a .347 batting average in May after taking a more aggressive approach at the plate.[18] After hitting .292 with one home run and 17 RBI in the first two months of the season, Marsh missed the month of June with a leg injury.[19][20] He finished the season batting .300 with seven home runs and 43 RBI in 96 games,[15] and he received both Mid- and Post-Season All-Star honors from the Southern League.[21] Later that year, Marsh played for the Mesa Solar Sox in the Arizona Fall League, where he batted .328 with two home runs and 11 RBI in 19 games.[15] Both home runs came during Mesa's 9–5 loss to the Glendale Desert Dogs on October 14.[22]

Early in the Angels' 2020 spring training, Marsh suffered a Grade 2 strain in his left elbow while diving to make a catch in center field.[23] By the time that he was cleared to play baseball, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic had shut down all MLB and minor league operations.[24] MLB eventually returned to play in July, but the 2020 Minor League Baseball season was canceled in its entirety. As a result, high-ranked prospects, including Marsh, were assigned to alternate training sites to continue their development and await potential major league promotions.[25] Working out of Blair Field, Marsh spent the season developing his hitting and learning how to play first base as a supplement to his usual outfield positions.[26][27] That November, the Angels added Marsh to the 40-man roster to protect him from being taken by another team in the Rule 5 draft.[28] Marsh suffered a glenoid labrum injury during the 2020 season, which he aggravated during spring training the following season.[29][30] The injury delayed his spring conditioning, and Marsh did not make his season debut until May 13, when he joined the Triple-A Salt Lake Bees in the Pacific Coast League.[31][32] Marsh struggled through the first few weeks of the season, batting only .183 in 16 games for Salt Lake.[33] He left the Bees' June 1 game with a shoulder injury, which kept him on the injured list until July 8.[31] Marsh hit a home run against the Sacramento River Cats on July 8, his first at bat after returning from the injury.[34] He batted .382 with two home runs and six RBI in eight games before his major league promotion,[35] giving him a season average of .255 in 24 Triple-A games.[15]

Los Angeles Angels (2021–2022)

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After injuries to Mike Trout and Justin Upton left the Angels with few outfield options, Marsh was promoted to Los Angeles on July 18, 2021.[36] He made his MLB debut that day, starting in center field. He went 0-for-4 at the plate with two strikeouts in the Angels' 7–4 loss to the Seattle Mariners.[37] The following day, Marsh recorded his first three major league hits, as well as an RBI on a ninth inning double, as Los Angeles lost 4–1 to the Oakland Athletics.[38][39] On August 19, Marsh contributed to the Angels' 13–10 comeback win over the Detroit Tigers when he tripled twice in one game, becoming the first Angel to do so since Erick Aybar in 2011.[40] Marsh's first major league home run came off of Marcos Diplán the following week, during the Angels' August 25 game against the Baltimore Orioles. Although Marsh plated three runs on the play, the Angels lost the game 10–6 to Baltimore.[41] Marsh struggled early after his call-up, batting only .155 in his first 24 major league games. He improved as the season progressed, hitting .297 in the last 46 games of the season.[42] He finished his rookie season batting .254 in 70 games, with two home runs and 19 RBI in 236 at bats.[43]

Marsh was named to the Angels' Opening Day roster in 2022 alongside Mike Trout and Jo Adell.[44] Manager Joe Maddon planned to use Trout in center field while rotating Marsh, Adell, and Taylor Ward in the corner outfield positions.[45] Marsh began the season on a hot streak, batting .340 with a .943 on-base plus slugging (OPS) by April 28.[46] By the end of May, he was batting .366, including a .932 OPS with runners in scoring position.[47] Marsh was one of many players to struggle during the Angels' 14-game losing streak in June, batting only .149 during that time. He did not hit a home run between May 7 and June 11, when he recorded two against the New York Mets to break his slump.[48] Marsh played 93 games for Los Angeles in 2022, batting .226 with eight home runs and 37 RBI in that time.[43]

Philadelphia Phillies (2022–present)

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On August 2, 2022, the Angels traded Marsh to the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for catching prospect Logan O'Hoppe.[49] Philadelphia, who had lacked a long-term center field option, had targeted Marsh during the previous offseason, but were unable to acquire him until the MLB trading deadline.[50] On August 17, during a game against the Cincinnati Reds, Marsh suffered a bone bruise in his knee and injured his ankle when he ran into the outfield wall at Great American Ball Park.[51][52] He was placed on the 10-day injured list and returned on August 27.[53] On August 31 Marsh hit his first triple as a Phillie in an 18-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

In the 2022 regular season he batted .245/.295/.384 between the two teams in 424 at bats, with 28 walks and 158 strikeouts.[54]

For 2023, Marsh was the everyday center fielder against right-handed pitching and improved his offensive production, batting .277/.372/.458 and practically doubling his walk total to 59, with 144 strikeouts. In the playoffs, he played in 12 games and slashed .342/.405/.526 as the Phillies were eliminated in the NLCS by the Arizona Diamondbacks.[1]

Personal life

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Marsh's younger sister Erin Marsh was a track and field athlete for the Duke Blue Devils. She won the silver medal in the pentathlon at the 2021 NCAA Division I Indoor Track and Field Championships and the bronze medal in the heptathlon at the 2022 NCAA Division I Outdoor Track and Field Championships.[55]

References

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  1. ^ a b c "Brandon Marsh Stats, Fantasy & News". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on July 9, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  2. ^ Blum, Sam (July 18, 2021). "Months after losing his father, then his best friend, Angels top prospect Brandon Marsh has meaningful debut". The Athletic. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  3. ^ a b Harris, Jack (September 3, 2021). "It has been a special time for Angels' Brandon Marsh in a year of heartache". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  4. ^ a b Friedlander, David (June 11, 2016). "Baseball Player of the Year: Buford's Marsh takes his game to a higher level, lives up to his billing". Gwinnett Daily Post. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  5. ^ "Buford's Brandon Marsh drafted by Los Angeles Angels organization in 2nd round of MLB Draft". The Gainesville Times. June 9, 2016. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  6. ^ Fletcher, Jeff (July 8, 2016). "Angels agree to terms with second-round pick Brandon Marsh". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  7. ^ Simon, Andrew (July 8, 2016). "Angels ink second-round Draft pick Marsh". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  8. ^ Sudge, Brandon (June 21, 2017). "Buford alum Marsh begins competitive pro career with rookie-affiliate Orem". Gwinnett Daily Post. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 4, 2022.
  9. ^ Neighbor, Fritz (June 19, 2017). "Pioneer preview: Owlz boast two-sport stars". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  10. ^ Kraft, Alex (June 23, 2017). "Marsh rakes in second straight for Owlz". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  11. ^ Boor, William (September 29, 2017). "Marsh, Hunter Jr. making up for lost time at Angels instructs". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  12. ^ Jackson, Josh (July 30, 2017). "Healthy Marsh takes part in Orem's outburst". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  13. ^ a b Avallone, Michael (June 3, 2018). "Marsh hitting way out of the slough". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  14. ^ Ingemi, Marisa (May 1, 2019). "Bees' Marsh posts first two-homer game". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  15. ^ a b c d e "Brandon Marsh Minor & Fall Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on April 22, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  16. ^ Bohnenkamp, John (May 18, 2018). "Bees' Marsh promoted". The Hawk Eye. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  17. ^ Ardaya, Fabian (April 3, 2019). "How Brandon Marsh's retooled swing could help him move up the prospect ranks". The Athletic. Archived from the original on March 19, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  18. ^ Gilberto, Gerard (March 12, 2021). "The Road to The Show™: Brandon Marsh". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on June 26, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  19. ^ Bumbaca, Chris (June 1, 2019). "Marsh mashes two triples for BayBears". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  20. ^ "Brandon Marsh Activated from 7-Day Injured List". OurSports Central. Mobile BayBears. July 4, 2019. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  21. ^ "Marsh named to Southern League Post-Season All-Star team". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. August 28, 2019. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  22. ^ Terranova, Rob (October 14, 2019). "Angels' Marsh mashes pair for Solar Sox". MiLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on April 27, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  23. ^ Torres, Maria (February 25, 2020). "Angels prospect Brandon Marsh sidelined with an elbow injury". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  24. ^ Fletcher, Jeff (March 13, 2021). "Angels' Brandon Marsh looking forward to getting back in the field". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  25. ^ Ghiroli, Brittany; Lockard, Melissa; Sarris, Eno (December 8, 2020). "'Everyone lost': The minor league's canceled season will reverberate for years". The Athletic. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  26. ^ Torres, Maria (September 11, 2020). "Prospect Brandon Marsh works on craft while awaiting call-up; Angels fall to Rockies". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  27. ^ Fletcher, Jeff (November 20, 2020). "Angels add Brandon Marsh and Chris Rodriguez to 40-man roster". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  28. ^ Torres, Maria (November 20, 2020). "Angels add Brandon Marsh, Chris Rodriguez to roster to protect them from Rule 5 draft". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 5, 2022.
  29. ^ Fletcher, Jeff (March 13, 2021). "Angels' Brandon Marsh looking forward to getting back in the field". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 5, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  30. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (March 13, 2021). "Marsh on mend, nearing return to outfield". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on November 5, 2021. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  31. ^ a b Dykstra, Sam (July 10, 2021). "Angels' Marsh takes off in Triple-A return". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  32. ^ Coles, Joe (May 13, 2021). "Los Angeles Angels prospect Brandon Marsh hits home run in Triple-A debut with Salt Lake Bees". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  33. ^ "Angels' Brandon Marsh: Out with shoulder inflammation". CBS Sports. RotoWire. June 7, 2021. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  34. ^ Coles, Joe (July 9, 2021). "Jo Adell hits walk-off single for Salt Lake Bees; Brandon Marsh homers in return to Triple-A action". Deseret News. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  35. ^ "Surprised by promotion, Brandon Marsh makes MLB debut in outfield for Los Angeles Angels". ESPN. Associated Press. July 18, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  36. ^ Mayo, Jonathan (July 18, 2021). "What to expect from Brandon Marsh". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on December 7, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  37. ^ Harris, Jack (July 18, 2021). "Angels' Brandon Marsh finally got the call, even if he missed it at first". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on August 1, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  38. ^ Santos, Justice delos (July 20, 2021). "Notes: 'A calmness about' Marsh's game". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on July 27, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  39. ^ "Laureano's 3-run HR lifts A's after Ohtani leaves mound". ESPN. Associated Press. July 20, 2021. Archived from the original on June 23, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  40. ^ Bollinger, Rhett (August 19, 2021). "'Moment to remember': Marsh leads rally". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  41. ^ "Orioles snap 19-game skid with 10–6 win over Angels". ESPN. Associated Press. August 25, 2021. Archived from the original on April 3, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  42. ^ DiGiovanna, Mike (March 23, 2022). "Angels' Jo Adell and Brandon Marsh have something to prove after early struggles". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on June 6, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  43. ^ a b "Brandon Marsh Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on August 6, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  44. ^ Fletcher, Jeff (April 7, 2022). "Here's who made the Angels' Opening Day roster". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on April 29, 2022. Retrieved August 7, 2022.
  45. ^ Evans, Luca (April 5, 2022). "Marsh, Adell and Ward to provide 'group effort' in OF corners". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  46. ^ Wexler, Sarah (April 28, 2022). "Marsh steps in for superstars, gets 3 knocks as Angels finish sweep". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  47. ^ Fletcher, Jeff (May 31, 2022). "Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh making strides in second season". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  48. ^ Wexler, Sarah (June 11, 2022). "Marsh breaks out with 'promising' multihomer game". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
  49. ^ Axisa, Mike (August 2, 2022). "Phillies acquire Angels outfielder Brandon Marsh, Cubs reliever David Robertson at 2022 MLB trade deadline". cbssports.com. CBS Sports. Retrieved October 8, 2022.
  50. ^ Lauber, Scott (August 2, 2022). "Phillies acquire RHP Noah Syndergaard, OF Brandon Marsh from Angels and closer David Robertson from Cubs". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Archived from the original on August 3, 2022. Retrieved August 3, 2022.
  51. ^ Zolecki, Todd (August 17, 2022). "With Marsh in good spirits, Phils enjoy monumental night". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  52. ^ Salisbury, Jim (August 17, 2022). "With Marsh likely going on IL, Phillies front office searches for outfield depth". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved August 18, 2022.
  53. ^ Seidman, Corey (August 27, 2022). "Brandon Marsh back in Phillies' lineup just 11 days after scary leg injury". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved September 7, 2022.
  54. ^ "Brandon Marsh Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More". Baseball-Reference.com.
  55. ^ "Marsh siblings, both Buford graduates, continue success in respective sports". North Gwinnett Voice. June 13, 2022. Archived from the original on August 7, 2022. Retrieved August 6, 2022.
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