When Brandon Marsh went down on the warning track in Cincinnati on August 16, it looked like his season might be over. The Phillies’ new center fielder injured his left leg trying to rob a home run, but despite the ugliness of the scene, he suffered no structural damage.
Marsh went on the injured list two days later with a bone bruise in his left knee and soreness in his left ankle. Somewhat miraculously, he healed fast enough to return to the Phillies’ lineup Saturday afternoon, missing just the minimum 10 days.
Marsh was back out in center field for the Phils, batting ninth. His temporary replacement, Bradley Zimmer, was designated for assignment.
Initially, Marsh said he feared the worst. There were some dark thoughts in the moments after the injury.
“It’s recovered a lot better than I ever thought it would,” he said earlier this week.
The Phillies acquired Marsh from the Los Angeles Angels at the trade deadline in exchange for catching prospect Logan O’Hoppe, who had just recently cracked Baseball America’s Top 100 prospects list. O’Hoppe is off to a hot start at Double A in the Angels’ system, hitting .286/.438/.674 with six homers and 17 RBI in 14 games.
Marsh, acquired mainly for his defense, has hit .250/.294/.313 in 34 plate appearances with the Phillies.
Here was Saturday’s Phillies lineup against Pirates right-hander Tyler Beede:
1. Kyle Schwarber, LF
2. Rhys Hoskins, 1B
3. Alec Bohm, 3B
4. Bryce Harper, DH
5. JT Realmuto, C
6. Nick Castellanos, RF
7. Bryson Stott, SS
8. Jean Segura, 2B
9. Brandon Marsh, CF
Kyle Gibson, SP
Subscribe to Phillies Talk: Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | Watch on YouTube