May 10, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies left fielder Brandon Marsh (16) reacts after hitting a single against the Colorado Rockies during the eighth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images
PHILADELPHIA — When Brandon Marsh greeted reporters after the Phillies defeated the Colorado Rockies 6-0 Sunday, he made sure to wish everyone a Happy Mother's Day.
As soon as the assembled media members got done wishing it back, Marsh was asked what his reaction was to the fact that after a four-hit performance Sunday, he now leads the league in batting average.
"My reaction is that's pretty freaking cool," Marsh said, as only he could.
But then he elaborated.
"I feel like what's helped me a lot is just being stubborn to the routine and the preparation. I ask all the veterans on our club questions every day about the arms that we're gonna see ... to our hitting coaches getting us dialed.
"So yeah, everybody but me is helping," Marsh added, injecting humor back into things. "So, it's been a lot of fun, just got to keep going."
Kyle Schwarber is now the MLB leader in home runs! 💣
(Via @TalkinBaseball_) pic.twitter.com/Qb2w98087m
One of those veterans that Marsh is able to lean on his Kyle Schwarber, who himself homered twice Sunday to tie Aaron Judge for the MLB lead in bombs at 16.
For his part, Schwarber isn't surprised to see Marsh making this leap.
"I feel like he's always had it in him. I don't think there's ever been a doubt," Schwarber said.
"You can even just go back to last year. If you take away April, it's pretty good. It's always been in there. I feel like the more that he's able to go out there and do his thing and build that confidence and keep with his routine, obviously great things are gonna happen. It feels like he has the right approach, and he's never rushed up there. Even if those first two at-bats don't get the result that he wants, he's able to stay locked in and keep finding a way to be productive in his later at-bats, with playing great defense, too."
Marsh couldn't be at a more different place than he was a year ago. Last April, he failed to record a hit in 29 at-bats, striking out 11 times during that period before landing on the injured list with a right hamstring strain.
While he wasn't eager Sunday to revisit his brutal start to 2025, Marsh pointed out that he was able to reset after a six-game rehab stint at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, with the help of two his teammates.
"I try to forget about the beginning of last year," Marsh acknowledged. "But I feel like it taught me a lot, and it's helped me get to where we're at today. I keep saying it, but Stubby and [Christian] Arroyo last year were tremendous help to me. And some other guys that were down there too in Lehigh when I was there.
"But yeah, it's been a whirlwind for sure, but I like where we're at. We just gotta keep going. So, yeah, try not to remember last April."
Phillies kids saw Brandon Marsh and gave him a hug. pic.twitter.com/HTX82Y6gd4
— Destiny Lugardo (@destiny_lugardo) May 10, 2026
And for as high as the spirits were for Marsh and the Phillies after they won their 10th game in 13 contests since Don Mattingly took over as interim manager, you don't get the sense that the 28-year-old is going to take his foot off the pedal any time soon.
"The second we leave, today doesn't matter," Marsh responded. "It did, like in real time. But we gotta move on to Boston now and go take a series there against a tough team. So that's what we're focused on."
