The Phillies have placed catcher Rafael Marchán on the 60-day injured list due to a fractured right hamate bone, the club announced. The move clears a 40-man roster spot for Rule 5 selection Noah Song, who was reinstated from military leave. Song won’t go onto the active roster, as he’s being placed on the 15-day IL due to a lower back strain.
Marchán missed most of Spring Training with the wrist issue. The Phils had previously called it a contusion, but today’s revelation of a fracture obviously paints a dimmer picture. He’s now officially out until at least May without much further clarity on his recovery timeline. Marchán played in 23 MLB games between 2020-21 and was the third catcher on the roster behind J.T. Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs. He’s coming off a .233/.316/.358 showing with Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
Philadelphia selected Song away from the Red Sox in the Rule 5 draft. Regarded as a potential first-round talent a few years ago, the righty fell to the fourth because of club concerns about his military commitments. Those have prevented him throwing a single pitch in full season ball but the Phils still rolled the dice to add him to camp. They’ll have to keep him on the active roster or MLB injured list if they don’t want to offer him back to Boston. For now, the back soreness buys Philadelphia some time to gauge his progress before facing that call.
Just a quick shout out to MLBTR. Thanks for all your awesome work keeping many of us here engaged with baseball in the off-season.
Just give Song back to Boston now, and stop wasting a 40-man then a 26-man roster spot on him. Even if he does make it through the season, he’ll need a few years of development. Thus, he will be sucking up a roster spot on the 40-man for years, before he is able to make a positive contribution.
It would be worth it.
It’s not as if Song is blocking some huge talent. May as well hold on to Song while you can. Could still be a steal, although the longer he goes without playing the more unlikely that is. Still, why cut him loose now? They don’t need the roster spot yet.
So said anything about “blocking some huge talent”. Its forfeiting a roster spot for a long-shot at best.
My point is, when you need that roster spot, you get rid of Song. SOng is injured now. You throw him on the IL. You don’t forfeit anything. It gives them more time to think about it.
Right now Song is using a 40-man roster spot There are many players that have been waived over the winter that could have been claimed and placed in that spot. Its a forfeited spot.
Oh I see. Sorry I misspoke. It is indeed a forfeited spot.
Tough spot for Marchan, the hamate bone is a tricky one for hitters…..speedy recovery sir.
It looks like the Phillies will be scouring the waiver wire for some aaa depth, because minor league prospects for catching are far from ready….
And agreed ds, Song will totally be worth that spot. DD clearly knows him and he’s done well so far in acquiring talent.
Looks like they have Aramis Garcia and John Hicks in aaa, plus minor leaguer Vito Friscia….
Unless you’re Dave Hollins…