Phillies’ Brandon Marsh hits IL, Weston Wilson Recalled from LHV
Photo via Don Otto
On paper the Phillies won, but in another, quite significant way, they sustained a crushing blow—in Saturday night’s game versus the Kansas City Royals, Phillies’ centerfield Brandon Marsh left the game with a right knee contusion.
With no one out in the top of the fifth, Royals’ seven-hole hitter Samad Taylor hit a fly ball to deep center field, and Marsh—sprinting back to make the catch—leaped for the ball as his knees bashed into the centerfield wall. Marsh immediately fell to the ground, so left fielder Kyle Schwarber flagged down the ball. Taylor reached third base and eventually scored on a suicide squeeze.
Marsh, with help from manager Rob Thomson and the Phillies’ medical staff, limped off the field and was replaced by rookie Johan Rojas.
After refining his approach and drastically improving his plate discipline in the offseason, the former top prospect is having a breakout season. Through 100 games, Marsh has eight home runs, a .284 average, and a team-leading .832 OPS, making him arguably the most productive hitter the Phillies have had this season.
UPDATE [2:29pm ET, 8/26/23]: Brandon Marsh was placed on the ten-day IL with a right knee contusion, and the Phillies recalled outfielder Weston Wilson from Lehigh Valley triple-A. You may remember Wilson from Phillies Spring Training, as he played in 20 games and posted a .926 OPS in 30 at-bats.
Wilson, 28, will make his major-league debut in his first appearance with the Phillies. As a career minor leaguer, he had a .256 average, 93 home runs, and a .772 OPS in 2503 at-bats. In Lehigh Valley this season, he hit a team-leading 25 home runs and posted a .885 OPS. During his minor league career, Wilson played all nine positions other than catcher, but he was primarily a shortstop with the IronPigs. He will likely see time in the outfield with the Phillies.
According to Rob Thomson, Marsh is expected to be on the IL for 2-3 weeks. During that time, Johan Rojas will be the everyday centerfielder until Christian Pache is reinstated from the IL in about a week.
