The Philadelphia Phillies have seen some impressive offensive turnarounds this season, but none more striking than Brandon Marsh’s complete transformation from April disaster to everyday contributor.
Marsh’s season broke into two distinct chapters. There’s the April version who couldn’t buy a hit and got sent down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley for injury rehab. Then there’s the guy who’s been raking since his return.
After the Phillies beat Miami, Marsh was asked who helped turn things around. His answer might surprise some fans – and vindicate others who’ve been defending this particular teammate.
“I know everyone talks about this guy, and not in good ways, but Stubby man,” Marsh said. “When I went down to Lehigh for those rehab games, he really just got my head back in the game. He leveled me out. That’s what guys like that do. He’s an incredible asset to this team, and he helps out more than anyone knows. So yeah, shoutout to Stubby.”
Brandon Marsh on Garrett Stubbs:
“When I went down to Lehigh for those rehab games . . . He just got my head back in the game, leveled me out.
“He helps out more than anyone knows.” pic.twitter.com/lEnb75ZqPp
— John Foley (@2008Philz) September 6, 2025
That’s Garrett Stubbs getting the credit – the backup catcher who’s become something of a polarizing figure among Phillies fans. Known more for his postgame celebrations than his batting average, Stubbs was apparently the steadying influence Marsh needed during his rehab stint.
Let’s put Marsh’s early-season struggles in perspective. From March 27th through April 16th, he was basically unwatchable at the plate.
Across 17 games and 42 at-bats, Marsh managed just four hits. That’s a .095 batting average with a .387 OPS – numbers that would make a pitcher blush.
The Turnaround
Since returning May 3rd, it’s been a completely different player. In 281 at-bats, Marsh has:
• 84 hits for a .299 average
• 45 runs scored
• 18 doubles, one triple, eight homers
• 28 RBIs and five stolen bases
• .810 OPS
That’s not just better – that’s borderline elite production. And according to Marsh, Stubbs played a huge role in getting his head right during those rehab games at Lehigh Valley.
The 27-year-old has shown flashes of being a difference-maker throughout his Phillies career. This season, it’s all coming together at the right time. His defense in the outfield remains excellent, and now the bat’s finally catching up.
Bigger Picture
Marsh won’t match his 2023 and 2024 WAR totals of 3.4 and 3.1, but his production since Triple-A has been exactly what the Phillies needed. Combined with Harrison Bader’s acquisition and Max Kepler finding his swing, Philadelphia’s outfield has looked completely different since August.
It’s worth noting that Stubbs spent most of this season back at Triple-A before getting called up in September with expanded rosters. While he was down there, he was apparently doing the kind of veteran leadership work that doesn’t show up in box scores.
The way I see it, this is exactly the type of story that makes baseball great. Sometimes it’s not the hitting coach or the fancy analytics that turn a season around – sometimes it’s just one teammate helping another get his head straight.
From where I’m sitting, Marsh’s second-half surge has been one of the most important developments for the Phillies’ playoff push. And if Stubbs deserves credit for helping make that happen, that’s a pretty good return on investment for a backup catcher.
