The Phillies have activated outfielder Brandon Marsh from the 10-day IL, the team announced today. Outfielder Bradley Zimmer was designated for assignment, opening a spot for Marsh on the active roster.
The 24-year-old second-year outfielder, who arrived in Philadelphia in a deadline deal that sent catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe to the Angels, had hardly had a chanced to get his feet wet in Philly before a sprained left ankle sent him to the IL. The injury was evidently fairly minor, however, as Marsh’s activation comes on his first day of eligibility.
Marsh will likely take over center field duties for the Phils, though he may also share time with the versatile Matt Vierling, who had split time in center with Zimmer in Marsh’s absence. Given yesterday’s return of Bryce Harper to the DH slot, which forces both Kyle Schwarber and Nick Castellanos to play the field to keep their bats in the lineup, center field takes on added importance in Philadelphia.
Fortunately for the Philly faithful, Marsh has rated out as a bit above-average defensively by most metrics, though his offensive production has lagged a bit. For his short career, he owns a .239/.299/.352 batting line (good for an 81 wRC+), including a .228/.285/.349 mark (78 wRC+) in 2022, though playing his home games in Philadelphia’s hitter-friendly Citizen’s Bank Park should help those numbers.
The 29-year-old Zimmer, who also rates out as above-average with the glove but owns a .215/.300/.337 career triple-slash, may opt to stick it out with the Phillies if he goes unclaimed, though he could be picked up by a contender in need of a glove-first reserve outfielder. Still, he’ll likely be looking for his fourth (or fifth) major league team in the offseason. After appearing in parts of five season with Cleveland, he began 2022 with the Blue Jays before he was claimed by the Phillies the same day Marsh hit the IL.
Nice.
Stan Darsh
Hahahaha.. Nice
Zim is out of options which makes a claim less likely. He needs some time in the minors. A former top prospect with excellent centerfield defense plus a modicum of power and speed. Too soon to give up on this guy.
The dude will turn 30 in November and has a lengthy injury history. Not too many more teams are going to give him a shot.
The only thing he really has going for him is that he can capably man CF. Aside from that his skillset is as good as it’s ever gonna be, and that can’t be appealing even for a team that desperately needs OF depth.
He was only in Philly briefly and had a rocky outing or two defensively, but he was a solid replacement IMO. Even got some hits.
Zimmer was adequate. Like you said, he had two bad defensive plays, but hit better than expected.
Zim would be smart to stay close to Philly in case anyone else gets hurt.
I agree
Nothing to see here…move along, move along……
With a dearth of upper level minor league outfielders, apologies to Simon Muzziotti and Daulton Guthrie, Zimmer would be a great addition for 2023.
After whiffs on Moniak, best of wishes 110% and Haseley, a reach, but hopefully pans out as a 4th, Zimmer would be great aaa insurance…
Muzziotti is out for the season regardless.
………..as stated, was looking ahead to 2023 aaa minor league depth, fully aware of Muzziotti’s patella issue and am also fully aware of Phils lower league talent Rojas, Wilson and in a weird way Ortiz…..
Zimmer is a known talent and the Phils are currently multi season playoff contenders….So keeping him stashed in the minors for 2023 in case of a Marsh or Vierling issue is just good business….
Zimmer has no role in a healthy 2022 w/ Schwarber, Marsh, Castellanos, Vierling and even Maton outfield……but if and/or when attrition happens, Zimmer is a good option going forward…
Muzzioti had a season ending injury.
@poet. Wow I totally missed that Moniak was traded for Syndergaard. Moniak was a #1 overall draft pick. Wow.
Urggh yeah, he went to the Angels hit .286 2hr in 5 games then busted a finger.
After the Schwarber/Castellanos signings and drafting of Crawford, his time was over…
Will always root for the guy, cause he never got a real chance here…
Phils only other 1/1 pick was Burrelll., who had a good career.
As a lifelong Phils fan, the Moniak draft(2016) was relatively weak. Moniak was looked at as a top 5 pick for sure. We in Philly wanted Puk, but signing issues surrounded him…and the Phils used $ saved to overslot other draftees…
So now I’ll root for a Thor resigning and Marsh manning CF for awhile…
rosters expand in a week. he will be back up
I think Zimmer is a candidate for a late career breakout. Baseball Reference still has him with 0.2 WAR this season, despite having an atrocious Batting Line. Some improvement on offense and I think he could catch on as a regular with another team in a few years.
The Zim Bros. Did not peg either as busts back when.
Marsh wasn’t great at AAA. So ok..
We loved the caveman in Anaheim. He’s a great defender and his bat will resurge. He’s fun to watch and a good addition for the Phills.
The Blue Jays will claim him and try to pass him through waivers again. That way he can be on their postseason roster for his speed and defense, which is probably what they hoped for when they DFA’d him.
Nailed it
Love Brandon Marsh with the Angels and now the Phillies.
Gold glove defense in CF.
Marsh has a chance to be an All Star CF once his hitting gets used to major league pitching.
I think the catching prospect the Angels got for Brandon Marsh makes the Angels better in the deal. Plus the Angels have Adell so Marsh was expendable.
It was a “win/win” deal.
Would love to see both Marsh and O’hoppe ”
break out.
Nice going tonight Phillies….