After a couple of years of sharing backup catcher duties with Garrett Stubbs, the Phillies hoped that in 2026 Rafael Marchan would be able to handle the job full time. Perhaps he could even help ease the burden on overworked…
Smarty Jones of The Good Phight gave Philadelphia Phillies backup catcher Rafael Marchan a failing grade of "F" for his 2026 campaign. The Phillies entered the year hoping Marchan would secure the full-time backup role behind J.T. Realmuto, but he struggled heavily on offense, sustained an injury, and was ultimately supplanted by Garrett Stubbs.
Marchan posted a .099 batting average with two home runs, six RBIs, and a -0.7 WAR across the season. While the writer notes that Marchan graded well defensively in blocking and framing, knee tendinitis sidelined him until September, and Jones expects the Phillies to explore alternatives for the backup catcher position during the offseason.
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