May 18, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Rafael Marchan (13) bats against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Rafael Marchan has spent parts of eight seasons in the minor leagues in the Phillies organization. In that time, he amassed 1,774 plate appearances. Nine of them ended in home runs.
At the Major League level, Marchan has now had 162 plate appearances, and he now has six homers, including his first this season as part of the Phillies 5-4 win over the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a double-header on Thursday.
So, what makes him more prolific at hitting dingers in the majors than in the minors?
Rafael Marchán to @TyDaubert of @PhilliesNation on homering more in the majors than the minors:
“I like to hit in the big leagues. It’s more fun, so I just save everything for here.” 😅 pic.twitter.com/5acrV6wmXr
"I just like to hit in the Big Leagues," Marchan said. "It's more fun than in the minors. I just save everything for here."
If that's the case, Marchan shouldn't change a thing.
ah yes, phillies legend, Rafael Marchán pic.twitter.com/pkNOWVGfls
He delivered a standout performance both at the plate and behind it.
Aside from his two-run homer that put the Phillies ahead 2-0 in the third inning, in the bottom of the eighth, with the game tied 4-4, Marchán stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and was hit by a pitch from reliever Daysbel Hernández, forcing in the go-ahead run.
Perhaps more importantly, defensively, Marchán was instrumental in preserving the win. He threw out two Braves attempting to steal second base, including Ozzie Albies in the ninth inning, thwarting a potential rally.
Rafael Marchan is here for the big moments like this
Insane game he had today. We have no chance of winning without him. pic.twitter.com/DJtkTP34az
"I've been saying all along that this kid is a really good player," manager Rob Thomson said. "Although there's not many numbers there, he's really given us good at bats and he understands the strike zone. He's very disciplined and he can really throw, obviously."
In his previous two starts, Marchan called games in which the Phillies had shutouts, on Thursday the pitching wasn't as strong, but he made up for it both offensively and defensively.
He also scored a run on an infield single by Trea Turner, beating a throw home from Braves third baseman Austin Riley.
But the part of his game that continues to improve is the game-calling, something he has gotten better at after having lengthy conversations with Phillies starting catcher J.T. Realmuto.
"I like to ask him about game-calling and how to attack the hitters," Marchan said. "Especially against (the Braves) because we face them a lot."
Marchan wasn't originally expected to play against the Braves, but with the rainout Wednesday and a doubleheader Thursday, he got thrown into the mix. He'll likely get one more game on this homestand this weekend against the Milwaukee Brewers as Thomson is reluctant to ask Realmuto to play four days in a row.
Having a guy like Marchan, who continues to show improvement in the areas he needs to improve while maintaining his ability to gun down runners on the bases, is a good thing.
And yeah, so is the influx of homers at the game's highest level.
