The offseason has been eventful for the Philadelphia Phillies. After losing to the New York Mets in the NLDS, fans anticipated major changes, but instead, the team made smaller yet meaningful moves. They brought in outfielder Max Kepler to address last season’s outfield issues and added left-handed starter Jesús Luzardo to strengthen an already solid rotation.
While the Phillies missed out on high-profile players like Juan Soto, Willy Adames, and Garrett Crochet, there’s still potential for improvement. To build on last season’s success—when they claimed the NL East title for the first time in 13 years—they’ll need to rely on internal growth and contributions.
3 players on Phillies’ 40-man roster who could make an underrated impact in 2025
Rafael Marchán
With the Phillies planning to give J.T. Realmuto more rest in 2025, Rafael Marchán is set to take on an expanded role. In 17 games last season while Realmuto was on the IL, Marchán impressed with a .294/.345/.549 slash line, hitting three home runs in just 51 at-bats. Notably, he had a standout performance in his third game, going 4-for-4 with two RBIs.
Defensively, Marchán proved to be a reliable replacement. His 1.87 pop time ranked fourth among all MLB catchers, just 0.02 seconds slower than Realmuto’s league-leading mark. During his limited stint in 2021, he threw out 40% of base stealers, a skill he maintained in the minors, throwing out over 30% in 2022 and 2023. While his success rate dipped slightly to 27% in 2024, just below average, he remains a solid defensive presence behind the plate.
Injuries have been a significant obstacle for the 25-year-old catcher. A lower back injury sidelined him until late May last year, and a shoulder injury in August cost him another opportunity to join the big-league roster. If Marchán can stay healthy—a considerable “if” based on his track record—his performance in limited action might earn him the backup catcher role over Garrett Stubbs.
Adding complexity to the decision is Stubbs’ minor league option, while Marchán is out of options. This puts the Phillies in a tough spot: Do they lean on Marchán’s offensive upside and potential or stick with Stubbs, whose game is more focused on defense?
A strong and healthy spring training performance from Marchán could not only convince the Phillies to choose him over Stubbs but also help lighten J.T. Realmuto’s workload. Realmuto has been one of the most heavily used catchers in the league since joining the Phillies, so having a reliable backup like Marchán could provide much-needed rest and reduce the wear and tear on Realmuto throughout the season.
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