Rob Thomson says he sees ‘superstar’ potential in Brandon Marsh

For the first time since he arrived in Philadelphia, Brandon Marsh is going to get a real shot to play every day—and it’s not just about opportunity.

Rob Thomson sees “superstar” potential in Marsh and wants to finally find out if the 26-year-old can become a true fixture in the Phillies’ lineup against both lefties and righties.

No More Platoon for Brandon Marsh…

Brandon Marsh has been in and out of platoon roles since the Phillies acquired him at the 2022 trade deadline, largely due to his struggles against left-handed pitching.

His early 2023 numbers against lefties (8-for-59 through four months) did nothing to change that perception, but the Phillies saw a glimmer of hope in August and beyond, when Marsh went 7-for-31 (.226) against southpaws.

That small but noticeable improvement, combined with his .900 OPS against right-handers, was enough for Thomson to decide it’s time to let Marsh sink or swim as a full-time outfielder.

“He’s seeing a lot of left-handed pitching here in spring training, and he’s doing a pretty good job,” Thomson said on the WIP Morning Show on Thursday. “I’d like to give him a pretty good run at playing every day if we can. But he’s such a great athlete.”

The first test could come on Opening Day, with Nationals lefty MacKenzie Gore lined up to start.

The Phillies Outfield Picture

Right now, Marsh is locked in as the starting center fielder, with Max Kepler in left and Nick Castellanos in right. If healthy, Johan Rojas will be the fourth outfielder, providing speed and late-game defense.

There’s still a chance the Phillies add another right-handed outfield bat before Opening Day, whether through waivers or a last-minute free-agent signing. But at least for now, they’re planning to roll without a strict platoon anywhere in the outfield.

Why This Decision Makes Sense

If Marsh struggles against lefties again, the Phillies will at least know for sure what they have in him. If he succeeds, they finally have an everyday center fielder locked in for the future.

Even Brandon Marsh’s 2023 splits weren’t bad enough to justify a strict platoon:

• .900 OPS vs. righties
• .717 OPS vs. lefties (in 110 plate appearances)

The first Phillies Home Run of the Year:

2024: Brandon Marsh
2023: Alec Bohm
2022: Kyle Schwarber
2021: Andrew Knapp
2020: Didi Gregorius
2019: Andrew McCutchen
2018: Cesar Hernandez
2017: Cesar Hernandez
2016: Freddy Galvis
2015: Jeff Francoeurpic.twitter.com/bIgoEiBJ4J

— Phillies Tailgate (@PhilsTailgate) March 4, 2025

That’s not great, but it’s playable—especially for a strong defender with speed who hits righties well. Thomson believes Marsh started to turn the corner late last year by adopting a Kyle Schwarber-esque approach against lefties. If he can follow Schwarber’s blueprint, Marsh could finally put the platoon debate to rest for good.

“He took the Kyle Schwarber approach last year,” Thomson explained. “Think about left-center field, stay low to left, and if you’re going to pull the ball, get high in right field and hit some home runs.”

Rob Thomson Sees Superstar Potential in Brandon Marsh

Maybe it’s just Spring Training optimism, but Thomson sees something more in Marsh than just a solid everyday player.

“I hope [Marsh] realizes how great of an athlete he is and how great of a player and potential superstar he could be,” Thomson said. “If he thinks that way, he’s got a better chance of getting there.”

High praise. Now it’s on Brandon Marsh to prove he’s ready for it.

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