Rafael Marchán #35

Rafael Alejandro Marchán...Hobbies: Spending time with family, going to the beach, watching movies and playing basketball…Signed by: Jesús Méndez.

2024

Saw his first MLB action since 2021 and slashed .294/.345/.549 over 17 games with the Phillies...Began the season on the 10-day IL with lower back pain; was reinstated and optioned to Lehigh Valley (AAA) on 5/27...In 13 games (eight rehab apps) between the IronPigs and Clearwater (A) from 5/14-6/4, slashed .233/.382/.395 with one double, two HR, eight RBI, 10 walks and four runs...Served as the additional player for the London Series against NYM from 6/8-9, but did not play...Recalled from Lehigh Valley prior to the game on 6/11 (optioned on 7/20)...Made 14 starts at catcher for the Phillies and slashed .300/.352/.560 (.912 OPS) with seven XBH and six RBI in those games...His 3 HR were a career high; averaged a HR every 22.20 AB in MLB (111 AB) compared to 174.56 AB/HR in MiLB (9 HR, 1571 AB)...6/12 at BOS marked his first ML appearance since 9/10/21 vs COL...Tallied a career-high four hits on 6/17 vs SD, the youngest Phillies catcher (25 years, 113 days) with four hits since Darren Daulton in 1985 (23 years, 226 days)...Went 29 straight PA without a strikeout from 6/17-7/3, the longest streak by a Phillie who primarily plays catcher since Carlos Ruiz (29 PA, 9/4-14/13)...Doubled twice on 7/9 vs LAD for the first time in his career...Registered a career-high-tying four-game hitting streak (also, 8/29-9/2/21) from 7/3-9, slashing .500/.529/.875 with a 1.404 OPS...Appeared in 29 games at catcher for Lehigh Valley and threw out 12 of 37 attempted base stealers (32.4%)...Was a part of the club’s stay-ready camp for the duration of the postseason.

2023

Began the season on the ML 60-day IL with a right hamate fracture; appeared in rehab games for Clearwater (A), Jersey Shore (A) and Lehigh Valley (AAA) before being reinstated on 6/20 and optioned to Lehigh Valley...Threw out 13 of 42 (31.0%) attempted base stealers in 43 non-rehab games at catcher for Lehigh Valley; threw out 15 of 48 (31.3%) attempted base stealers overall at the triple-A level...After his rehab assignment, slashed .316/.402/.480 (.882 OPS) with 18 XBH (13 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR) and 27 HR in 44 games for Lehigh Valley...Following the season, played for Aragua in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he slashed .333/.436/.546 with a .982 OPS and 16 walks to 11 strikeouts in 32 games.

2022

Began the season on the ML 60-day IL with a left hamstring strain; appeared in rehab games for Jersey Shore (A) and Lehigh Valley (AAA) before being reinstated from the IL on 6/12 and optioned to Lehigh Valley...Appeared in 56 games at catcher for Lehigh Valley and threw out 23 of 66 attempted base stealers (34.8%)...Was recalled by the Phillies on 7/12, but did not appear in a game before being returned to Lehigh Valley on 7/14...Following the season, played for La Guaira in the Venezuelan Winter League, where he slashed .361/.477/.389 with 15 walks to 13 strikeouts in 26 games...Was rated the best defensive catcher and as having the best strike-zone discipline in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America following the season.

2021

Began the season with Lehigh Valley (AAA)...Had six stints with the Phillies: 4/30, 5/13-28, 6/10-11, 6/19-25, 7/29-8/3 and 8/27-9/11...Was 2-for-5 (40.0%) in throwing out attempted base stealers in 17 games (13 starts) at catcher with the Phillies...The Phillies went 8-5 in his starts...Made his first ML appearance at 1st base, 8/1 at PIT...Collected his first career triple on 8/29 vs ARI...Also played in one game for Reading (AA)...Following the season, was named the No. 9 prospect, the best defensive catcher and as having the best strike-zone discipline in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America.

2020

Batted .429 (3-7) in six spring training games...Was added to the club’s player pool during summer camp...Had his contract selected from Lehigh Valley prior to the second game of the doubleheader on 9/13 at MIA...On 9/14 at MIA, made his ML debut in a start at catcher and singled in his first career plate appearance...At 21 years, 202 days, became the youngest Phillie to collect a hit in his first ML plate appearance since Orlando Isales (20 years, 283 days) on 9/30/80 vs CHI...The last Phillie to make his ML debut as the starting catcher at a younger age was Mike Loan (17 years, 357 days) on 9/18/1912 vs STL (that was the lone game of Loan’s ML career)...Became the youngest Phillie to make his ML debut since Elizardo Ramirez (21 years, 118 days) did so on 5/25/04 at NYM...On 9/18 vs TOR (gm 2), hit his first career HR (A.J. Cole), a three-run, game-tying shot; it was also his first professional HR, having never homered in 765 career at-bats in the minor leagues...At 21 years, 206 days old, became the youngest Phillies catcher ever to homer in a game and the youngest Phillies player to homer since Scott Rolen (21 years, 155 days) on 9/6/96 vs CHI... The last catcher in the majors to homer at a younger age was Salvador Pérez for each of his first three career homers between 8/29-9/23/11 (between 21 years, 111 days and 21 years, 136 days for all three)...Following the season, was named the No. 5 prospect in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America.

2019

Opened year with Lakewood (A)...Promoted to Clearwater (A) on 7/30 for the remainder of the season...Caught 36.5% (31-85) of runners attempting to steal in 70 games (68 starts) at catcher...Was on the IL, 5/2-24, with a left wrist contusion...Following the season, was named the No. 6 prospect and rated as the best defensive catcher in the Phillies minor league system by Baseball America.

2018

Named a New York-Penn League All-Star...Ranked 4th in the NYPL in AVG (.301)...Among qualifying hitters in the NYPL, was the 3rd-most difficult hitter to strike out (11.67 PA/SO)... Spent the entire season with Williamsport (A)...Led NYPL catchers in assists (57) and was T-1st in double plays turned (5)...Among qualifying NYPL catchers, ranked 4th in catcher caught stealing percentage (29.4%, 20 of 68) l Hit .377 (20-53) against LHP...Participated in Florida Instructional League.