Jump to content

Rafael Marchán: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→Minor leagues: clean up slightly
mNo edit summary
 
(44 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Venezuelan baseball catcher}}
{{Short description|Venezuelan baseball catcher (born 1999)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox baseball biography
{{Infobox baseball biography
|name = Rafael Marchan
|name = Rafael Marchán
|image = Rafael Marchan.png
|image = Rafael Marchan.png
|image_size =
|image_size =
|caption = Marchan with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in 2021
|caption = Marchan with the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] in 2021
|team = Philadelphia Phillies
|team = Philadelphia Phillies
|number = 12
|number = 13
|position = [[Catcher]]
|position = [[Catcher]]
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|02|25}}
|birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|02|25}}
|birth_place = [[San Cristóbal, Táchira|San Cristóbal]], [[Venezuela]]
|birth_place = [[San Cristóbal, Táchira|San Cristóbal]], Venezuela
|bats = Both
|bats = Both
|throws = Right
|throws = Right
Line 17: Line 17:
| debutyear = 2020
| debutyear = 2020
| debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies
| debutteam = Philadelphia Phillies
| statyear = 2021 season
| statyear = 2024 season
| statleague = MLB
| statleague = MLB
| stat1label = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1label = [[Batting average (baseball)|Batting average]]
| stat1value = .267
| stat1value = .279
| stat2label = [[Home run]]s
| stat2label = [[Home run]]s
| stat2value = 2
| stat2value = 5
| stat3label = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
| stat3label = [[Run batted in|Runs batted in]]
| stat3value = 7
| stat3value = 13
| teams =
| teams =
*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|2020}}–present)
*[[Philadelphia Phillies]] ({{mlby|2020}}–{{mlby|2021}}, {{mlby|2024}}–present)
|medaltemplates=
{{MedalSport | Men's [[baseball]]}}
{{MedalCountry | {{bb|VEN}}}}
{{MedalCompetition | [[U-15 Baseball World Cup]]}}
{{MedalBronze | [[2014 15U Baseball World Cup|2014 Mazatlán]] | [[Venezuela national baseball team|Team]]}}
}}
}}


'''Rafael Alejandro Marchan''' (born February 25, 1999) is a [[Venezuelans|Venezuelan]] [[professional baseball]] [[catcher]] for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Marchan signed with the Phillies organization as an amateur free agent in 2015, at age 16. Originally an [[infielder]], he converted to catcher and impressed scouts and coaches early in his minor league career with his prowess on defense.
'''Rafael Alejandro Marchán''' (born February 25, 1999) is a [[Venezuelans|Venezuelan]] [[professional baseball]] [[catcher]] for the [[Philadelphia Phillies]] of [[Major League Baseball]] (MLB). Marchan signed with the Phillies organization as an amateur free agent in 2015, at age 16. Originally an [[infielder]], he converted to catcher and impressed scouts and coaches early in his minor league career with his prowess on defense.


Despite never playing above the [[Class A-Advanced]] level of the minor leagues, he entered major league spring training in and eventually made his major league debut in September 2020, hitting his first professional [[home run]] on September 18. He returned to the minor leagues before the start of the 2021 season and, as of 2020, ranks among the top five prospects in the Phillies' [[farm system]].
Despite never playing above the [[Class A-Advanced|High–A]] level of the minor leagues, he entered major league spring training in and eventually made his major league debut in September 2020, hitting his first professional [[home run]] on September 18. He returned to the minor leagues before the start of the 2021 season.


== Early life ==
== Early life ==
Line 37: Line 42:


== Career ==
== Career ==
⚫
=== Minor leagues ===
[[File:Rafael Marchan (48010700583) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Marchan with the [[Lakewood Blueclaws]] in 2019]]
[[File:Rafael Marchan (48010700583) (cropped).jpg|thumb|left|upright|Marchan with the [[Lakewood Blueclaws]] in 2019]]
⚫
=== Minor leagues ===
After spending the end of the 2015 baseball season practicing catching in the [[Florida Instructional League]],<ref name="gelb" /> Marchan spent 2016 with the [[Dominican Summer League]] (DSL) [[Dominican Summer League Phillies|Phillies]], predominantly catching but with some appearances at [[first base]]. In 44 games for the DSL Phillies, he [[Batting average (baseball)|batted]] .333 with 34 [[runs batted in]] (RBI) in 171 [[at bat]]s.<ref name="minors">{{cite web |title=Rafael Marchan Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=marcha000raf |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> He spent the following year with the [[Gulf Coast League]] (GCL) [[Gulf Coast League Phillies|Phillies]], batting .238 with 10 RBI in only 30 games and 84 at bats.<ref name="minors" />
After spending the end of the 2015 baseball season practicing catching in the [[Florida Instructional League]],<ref name="gelb" /> Marchan spent 2016 with the [[Dominican Summer League]] (DSL) [[Dominican Summer League Phillies|Phillies]], predominantly catching but with some appearances at [[first base]]. In 44 games for the DSL Phillies, he [[Batting average (baseball)|batted]] .333 with 34 [[runs batted in]] (RBI) in 171 [[at bat]]s.<ref name="minors">{{cite web |title=Rafael Marchan Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=marcha000raf |website=[[Baseball-Reference.com]] |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> He spent the following year with the [[Gulf Coast League]] (GCL) [[Gulf Coast League Phillies|Phillies]], batting .238 with 10 RBI in only 30 games and 84 at bats.<ref name="minors" />


In 2018, Marchan was promoted to the [[Williamsport Crosscutters]] of the [[Class A Short Season|Low–A]] [[New York-Penn League]] (NYPL), where he drew praise from his coaches as both a catcher and a batter: in addition to improving his ability to handle pitchers and call games from behind the plate, by the NYPL All-Star game in August, the [[Switch hitter|switch-hitting]] Marchan was batting .297 left-handed and .325 right-handed.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rupert |first=Mitch |title=19-year-old Marchan one of the Cutters' most complete players |url=https://www.sungazette.com/sports/local-sports/2018/08/19-year-old-marchan-one-of-the-cutters-most-complete-players/ |work=[[Williamsport Sun-Gazette]] |date=August 14, 2018 |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> Marchan appeared at the All-Star Game that summer, successfully reaching base in five of his six [[plate appearance]]s.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rupert |first=Mitch |title=All 6 Cutters on the All-Star team play key role in win |url=https://www.sungazette.com/sports/local-sports/2018/08/all-6-cutters-on-the-all-star-team-play-key-role-in-win/ |work=Williamsport Sun-Gazette |date=August 15, 2018 |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> At the end of the year, leading the team with nine [[stolen base]]s and fourth in the NYPL with a .301 batting average, Marchan was named the Crosscutters' [[most valuable player]] (MVP).<ref>{{cite news |title=Williamsport Crosscutters name 2018 award winners |url=https://www.lockhaven.com/sports/local-sports/2018/09/williamsport-crosscutters-name-2018-award-winners/ |work=The Express |location=Lock Haven, PA |date=September 11, 2018 |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref>
In 2018, Marchan advanced to the [[Williamsport Crosscutters]] of the [[New York-Penn League]], where he was named an all-star as he posted a .301 batting average with 12 RBIs and eight doubles. He earned another promotion in 2019, splitting his season between the [[Lakewood BlueClaws]] and [[Clearwater Threshers]]. After the season, ''[[Baseball America]]'' named him the sixth-best prospect in the Phillies' minor league system.<ref name="media guide"/> Throughout his early minor league career, he showed promise on defense, being named the [[farm system]]'s best defensive catcher in 2019 and winning the team's Larry Rojas Award for work ethic in spring training the same year.<ref name="promise"/><ref>{{cite news |last1=Breen |first1=Matt |title=Phillies catcher Rafael Marchan's first home run was a long time coming |url=https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillies-rafael-marchan-first-home-run-professional-joe-girardi-20200919.html |access-date=April 7, 2021 |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=September 19, 2020}}</ref>

Following his performance with Williamsport, Marchan was promoted to the [[Class A (baseball)|Single-A]] [[Lakewood BlueClaws]] to start the 2019 season, forming a catching [[Platoon system|platoon]] with fellow [[Prospect (sports)|prospect]] Abrahan Gutierrez.<ref name="salisbury" /> On July 30, after batting .271 in 63 games for Lakewood,<ref name="minors" /> the Phillies promoted Marchan to the [[Class A-Advanced|High–A]] [[Clearwater Threshers]] of the [[Florida State League]].<ref name="media guide" /> Between the two teams, Marchan batted .261 in 85 minor-league games in 2019, with 23 RBI and two stolen bases.<ref name="minors" /> Despite hitting .285 with a .687 [[on-base plus slugging]] (OPS) thus far in his minor league career, as well as a .988 [[fielding percentage]] and successfully [[Pickoff|picking off]] 36 percent of attempted base stealers,<ref name="breen">{{cite news |last=Breen |first=Matt |title=Phillies catcher Rafael Marchan's first home run was a long time coming |url=https://www.inquirer.com/phillies/phillies-rafael-marchan-first-home-run-professional-joe-girardi-20200919.html |work=[[The Philadelphia Inquirer]] |date=September 19, 2020 |access-date=November 23, 2021 |url-access=limited}}</ref> there was some concern from SABRmetrics analysts that, after 846 plate appearances and four full seasons in [[Minor League Baseball]] (MiLB), Marchan had yet to hit a home run.<ref>{{cite news |last=Clemens |first=Ben |title=Rafael Marchan Powers Up |url=https://blogs.fangraphs.com/rafael-marchan-powers-up/ |work=[[Fangraphs]] |date=September 22, 2020 |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> Marchan was left unprotected in that November's [[Rule 5 Draft]], but was unclaimed by other MLB teams, in part because he was only 21 years old and had not played in [[Double A (baseball)|Double A]] or higher.<ref name="supporter">{{cite news |last=Salisbury |first=Jim |title=Rafael Marchan Finds A Suppoerter In Joe Girardi |url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/rafael-marchan-finds-a-supporter-in-joe-girardi/ |work=Baseball America |date=August 3, 2020 |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref>

=== Major leagues ===
After impressing manager [[Joe Girardi]], himself a former catcher, Marchan was invited to the Phillies' 2020 [[spring training]]. Rather than being poised for a promotion, the team used the opportunity to observe him in action and give him advice: for example, while catching bullpen sessions for major league pitchers like [[Aaron Nola]] and [[Ranger Suárez]], Marchan's coaches would watch to see if he was giving away the pitches he called by taking on certain stances.<ref name="gelb" /> When the [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports|COVID-19 pandemic]] forced the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season,<ref>{{cite news |last1=West |first1=Jenna |title=Minor League Baseball's 2020 Season Canceled |url=https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/30/minor-league-baseball-season-canceled-2020-coronavirus |access-date=June 17, 2021 |work=[[Sports Illustrated]] |date=June 30, 2020 |archive-date=November 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201118093911/https://www.si.com/mlb/2020/06/30/minor-league-baseball-season-canceled-2020-coronavirus |url-status=live }}</ref> Marchan was one of several Phillies prospects invited to practice at an alternate training site in [[Allentown, Pennsylvania]], where he was available for a major league call-up in case something happened to Phillies catchers [[J. T. Realmuto]] or [[Andrew Knapp]].<ref name="breen" /> When Realmuto began to experience hip soreness that September, prior to a [[Doubleheader (baseball)|doubleheader]] against the [[Miami Marlins]], Marchan was called up between games 1 and 2.<ref>{{cite news |last=Seidman |first=Corey |title=Phillies call up catcher prospect with J.T. Realmuto injured |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/jt-realmuto-injury-phillies-rafael-marchan-catcher |work=[[NBC Sports Philadelphia]] |date=September 13, 2020 |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> He made his MLB debut the next day, recording a [[Single (baseball)|single]] in the third inning for his first major league [[Hit (baseball)|hit]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |title=Despite losses, Phils confident: 'We're in this' |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/vince-velasquez-phillies-struggle-in-finale-loss-to-marlins |work=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |date=September 14, 2020 |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> At 21 years and 202 days old, Marchan was the youngest catcher to start in an MLB game during his debut, 109 days younger than [[Alejandro Kirk]] when the latter started behind the plate for the [[Toronto Blue Jays]] two days earlier.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Player Batting Game Finder |url=https://stathead.com/tiny/dOWYP |website=Stathead |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> Four days later, Marchan hit his first professional home run. Because no fans were allowed in [[Citizens Bank Park]], the Phillies had been commemorating all home runs in 2020 by placing a cardboard cutout of the player in the location where the ball had landed; with no picture of Marchan available on such short notice, they instead drew a [[stick figure]] with the name "Marchan" on a piece of cardboard to mark the landing site for his home run.<ref name="breen" /> Marchan went 4-for-8 in three MLB games during the protracted 2020 season,<ref name="majors">{{cite web |title=Rafael Marchan Stats |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/m/marchra01.shtml |website=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=November 23, 2021}}</ref> and at the end of the year, ''[[Baseball America]]'' named him the Phillies' fifth-highest prospect.<ref name="media guide">{{cite book |editor1-last=Clark |editor1-first=Bonnie |title=2021 Philadelphia Phillies Media Guide |date=2021 |publisher=Philadelphia Phillies |location=Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |pages=124–125 |url=https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/2021%20Philadelphia%20Phillies%20Media%20Guide.pdf |access-date=April 7, 2021 |archive-date=April 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210403132139/https://pressbox.athletics.com/Publications/MLB%20Media%20Guides/2021%20Philadelphia%20Phillies%20Media%20Guide.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

⚫
Ultimately, the Phillies did re-sign Realmuto and Marchan entered spring training in 2021 behind both Realmuto and [[Andrew Knapp]] on the team's [[depth chart]] at catcher.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morgenstern |first1=Leo |title=2021 Player Previews: Andrew Knapp and Rafael Marchan |url=https://www.thegoodphight.com/2021/3/16/22324167/phillies-2021-player-previews-andrew-knapp-rafael-marchan |website=The Good Phight |publisher=[[SBNation.com]] |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> Marchan sustained a [[hamstring]] injury during spring training and ultimately was sent to minor league camp in late March.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Salisbury |first1=Jim |title=Another sign from Phils camp that Realmuto will be ready for opener |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/mlb-rumors-sign-phillies-camp-jt-realmuto-will-be-ready-opener |website=NBC Sports Philadelphia |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=March 24, 2021}}</ref> Marchan began the 2021 season with the [[Lehigh Valley IronPigs]] of [[Triple-A East]], where he batted batted .203, and was subsequently demoted to the [[Reading Fightin Phils]] of [[Double-A Northeast]]. He returned to the Major Leagues in August 2021 and started at catcher as Realmuto and Knapp both struggled with injuries.

Marchan began the 2022 season in Triple-A after not making the Opening Day roster out of spring. On April 7, 2022, Marchan was placed on the 60-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phillies’ Rafael Marchan: Recalled, placed on 60-day IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rafael-marchan-recalled-placed-on-60-day-il/amp/|access-date=January 15, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> On June 12, Marchan was activated from the injured list and optioned to Lehigh Valley.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phillies’ Rafael Marchan: Activated and optioned|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rafael-marchan-activated-and-optioned/amp/|access-date=February 26, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> He did not appear for the Phillies during the 2022 season, instead hitting .233 with 4 home runs and 29 RBI in 66 games for Triple–A Lehigh Valley.


Marchan was placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the 2023 season after suffering a fractured right [[hamate bone]] in [[spring training]]. As a result, [[Garrett Stubbs]] began the year as the primary backup to Realmuto.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phillies’ Rafael Marchan: Placed on 60-day IL|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rafael-marchan-placed-on-60-day-il/|access-date=June 23, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> After a rehab stint with High–A Clearwater,<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phillies’ Rafael Marchan: Cleared for rehab games|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rafael-marchan-cleared-for-rehab-games/|access-date=June 23, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref> Marchan was activated from the injured list on June 20 and optioned to Triple–A.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Phillies’ Rafael Marchan: Activated and optioned|url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rafael-marchan-activated-and-optioned-881923/|access-date=June 23, 2023|website=cbssports.com|language=en}}</ref>
=== Philadelphia Phillies ===
Marchan saw time in the Phillies' major league [[spring training]] camp in 2020 as a relief catcher and caught the eye of manager [[Joe Girardi]], a former catcher himself.<ref name="girardi"/> Despite having never played above [[Class A-Advanced]], Marchan was added to the Phillies’ 60-player roster pool during the pandemic-adjusted [[2020 Philadelphia Phillies season|2020 season]] on July 16, 2020,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/phillies-roster-moves-bud-norris-rafael-marchan-austin-davis |title=Phillies release Bud Norris, add Rafael Marchan and Austin Davis to player pool|date=July 16, 2020|last=Seidman|first=Corey|publisher=[[NBC Sports]]|work=nbcsports.com|access-date=September 14, 2020}}</ref> leading to his promotion to the major leagues on September 13 when starting catcher [[J. T. Realmuto]] suffered an injury.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/jt-realmuto-injury-phillies-rafael-marchan-catcher|title=Phillies call up catcher prospect Rafael Marchan with J.T. Realmuto injured|date=September 14, 2020|last=Seidman|first=Corey|publisher=[[NBC Sports]]|work=nbcsports.com|access-date=September 14, 2020}}</ref> At age 21, he became the youngest Phillie to make his major league debut since 2004.<ref name="media guide"/> On September 14, 2020, during that debut, Marchan [[Single (baseball)|singled]] in his first big league [[at bat]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Zolecki |first1=Todd |title=Despite losses, Phils confident: 'We're in this' |url=https://www.mlb.com/news/vince-velasquez-phillies-struggle-in-finale-loss-to-marlins |website=MLB.com |publisher=MLB Advanced Media |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=September 15, 2020}}</ref> Four days later, on September 18, Marchan hit the first [[home run]] of his professional career, which to that point had spanned over 850 plate appearances.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Seidman |first1=Corey |title=The most improbable home run in recent Phillies memory |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/phillies-rafael-marchan-first-homer-mickey-moniak-blue-jays |access-date=April 7, 2021 |work=NBC Sports Philadelphia |date=September 19, 2020}}</ref> At season's end, Marchan was named the fifth-best prospect in the Phillies' minor league system and was viewed as a darkhorse candidate to start at catcher in 2021 if the Phillies were unable to re-sign Realmuto.<ref name="fangraphs"/><ref>{{cite web |last1=Daubert |first1=Ty |title=What role will catcher Rafael Marchan have in 2021? |url=https://www.philliesnation.com/2020/12/what-role-will-catcher-rafael-marchan-have-in-2021/ |website=Phillies Nation |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=December 4, 2020}}</ref>


After an injury to Realmuto landed him on the injured list, Marchan was recalled to the majors for the first time since 2021 on June 11, 2024. He had previously served as the 27th man during the Phillies series in [[London]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Back in big leagues |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/baseball/news/phillies-rafael-marchan-back-in-big-leagues/amp/ |access-date=June 12, 2024 |website=www.cbssports.com}}</ref> Marchan played 17 games with the Phillies before being optioned to Lehigh Valley when Realmuto returned on July 20. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto off IL after meniscus recovery|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/phillies-catcher-jt-realmuto-off-il-after-meniscus/story?id=112129538|date=2024-07-20|access-date=2024-07-21|language=en-us|website=ABC News}}</ref>
⚫
Ultimately, the Phillies did re-sign Realmuto and Marchan entered spring training 2021 behind both Realmuto and [[Andrew Knapp]] on the team's [[depth chart]] at catcher.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Morgenstern |first1=Leo |title=2021 Player Previews: Andrew Knapp and Rafael Marchan |url=https://www.thegoodphight.com/2021/3/16/22324167/phillies-2021-player-previews-andrew-knapp-rafael-marchan |website=The Good Phight |publisher=[[SBNation.com]] |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=March 16, 2021}}</ref> Marchan sustained a [[hamstring]] injury during spring training and ultimately was sent to minor league camp in late March.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Salisbury |first1=Jim |title=Another sign from Phils camp that Realmuto will be ready for opener |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/phillies/mlb-rumors-sign-phillies-camp-jt-realmuto-will-be-ready-opener |website=NBC Sports Philadelphia |access-date=April 7, 2021 |date=March 24, 2021}}</ref> Marchan began the 2021 season with the [[Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs]] of [[Triple-A East]], but was demoted to the [[Reading Fightin Phils]] of [[Double-A Northeast]]. He returned to the Major Leagues in August 2021 and started at catcher as Realmuto and Knapp both struggled with injuries.


==Personal life==
==Personal life==
Marchan resides in [[Caracas, Venezuela]].<ref name="promise"/> His hobbies include playing [[basketball]] and spending time at the beach.<ref name="media guide"/>
Marchan resides in [[Caracas, Venezuela]].<ref name="promise">{{cite web|url=https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/a-converted-catcher-phillies-rafael-marchan-showing-promise-behind-the-plate|title=A Converted Catcher, Phillies' Rafael Marchan Shows Promise Behind The Plate|date=March 28, 2019|last=Salisbury|first=Jim|publisher=[[Baseball America]]|work=baseballamerica.com|access-date=September 15, 2020}}</ref> His hobbies include playing [[basketball]] and spending time at the beach.<ref name="media guide"/>


==References==
==References==
Line 62: Line 75:
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1999 births]]
[[Category:1999 births]]
[[Category:People from San Cristóbal, Táchira]]
[[Category:Sportspeople from San Cristóbal, Táchira]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Venezuela]]
[[Category:Major League Baseball players from Venezuela]]
[[Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
[[Category:Venezuelan expatriate baseball players in the United States]]
Line 75: Line 88:
[[Category:Lehigh Valley IronPigs players]]
[[Category:Lehigh Valley IronPigs players]]
[[Category:Reading Fightin Phils players]]
[[Category:Reading Fightin Phils players]]
[[Category:Jersey Shore BlueClaws players]]

Latest revision as of 03:44, 5 October 2024

Rafael Marchán
Marchan with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2021
Philadelphia Phillies – No. 13
Catcher
Born: (1999-02-25) February 25, 1999 (age 25)
San Cristóbal, Venezuela
Bats: Both
Throws: Right
MLB debut
September 14, 2020, for the Philadelphia Phillies
MLB statistics
(through 2024 season)
Batting average.279
Home runs5
Runs batted in13
Stats at Baseball Reference Edit this at Wikidata
Teams
Medals
Men's baseball
Representing  Venezuela
U-15 Baseball World Cup
Bronze medal – third place 2014 Mazatlán Team

Rafael Alejandro Marchán (born February 25, 1999) is a Venezuelan professional baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). Marchan signed with the Phillies organization as an amateur free agent in 2015, at age 16. Originally an infielder, he converted to catcher and impressed scouts and coaches early in his minor league career with his prowess on defense.

Despite never playing above the High–A level of the minor leagues, he entered major league spring training in and eventually made his major league debut in September 2020, hitting his first professional home run on September 18. He returned to the minor leagues before the start of the 2021 season.

Early life

[edit]

Marchan was born on February 25, 1999, in San Cristóbal, Táchira, Venezuela.[1] He grew up playing baseball, primarily as a shortstop, a popular position among Venezuelan adolescents hoping to break into professional baseball,[2] and his childhood role model was Venezuelan shortstop Omar Vizquel.[3] Shortly before his 16th birthday, he was encouraged by a handful of scouts to try catching, which would encourage his chances of being taken by a Major League Baseball (MLB) team.[2] He made his catching debut at an under-15 baseball tournament in Mexico during the summer of 2015, which caught the attention of a number of international MLB scouts. The Philadelphia Phillies of MLB ultimately signed Marchan as an international free agent in July 2015 for a signing bonus of $200,000.[3]

Career

[edit]
Marchan with the Lakewood Blueclaws in 2019

Minor leagues

[edit]

After spending the end of the 2015 baseball season practicing catching in the Florida Instructional League,[2] Marchan spent 2016 with the Dominican Summer League (DSL) Phillies, predominantly catching but with some appearances at first base. In 44 games for the DSL Phillies, he batted .333 with 34 runs batted in (RBI) in 171 at bats.[4] He spent the following year with the Gulf Coast League (GCL) Phillies, batting .238 with 10 RBI in only 30 games and 84 at bats.[4]

In 2018, Marchan was promoted to the Williamsport Crosscutters of the Low–A New York-Penn League (NYPL), where he drew praise from his coaches as both a catcher and a batter: in addition to improving his ability to handle pitchers and call games from behind the plate, by the NYPL All-Star game in August, the switch-hitting Marchan was batting .297 left-handed and .325 right-handed.[5] Marchan appeared at the All-Star Game that summer, successfully reaching base in five of his six plate appearances.[6] At the end of the year, leading the team with nine stolen bases and fourth in the NYPL with a .301 batting average, Marchan was named the Crosscutters' most valuable player (MVP).[7]

Following his performance with Williamsport, Marchan was promoted to the Single-A Lakewood BlueClaws to start the 2019 season, forming a catching platoon with fellow prospect Abrahan Gutierrez.[3] On July 30, after batting .271 in 63 games for Lakewood,[4] the Phillies promoted Marchan to the High–A Clearwater Threshers of the Florida State League.[8] Between the two teams, Marchan batted .261 in 85 minor-league games in 2019, with 23 RBI and two stolen bases.[4] Despite hitting .285 with a .687 on-base plus slugging (OPS) thus far in his minor league career, as well as a .988 fielding percentage and successfully picking off 36 percent of attempted base stealers,[9] there was some concern from SABRmetrics analysts that, after 846 plate appearances and four full seasons in Minor League Baseball (MiLB), Marchan had yet to hit a home run.[10] Marchan was left unprotected in that November's Rule 5 Draft, but was unclaimed by other MLB teams, in part because he was only 21 years old and had not played in Double A or higher.[11]

Major leagues

[edit]

After impressing manager Joe Girardi, himself a former catcher, Marchan was invited to the Phillies' 2020 spring training. Rather than being poised for a promotion, the team used the opportunity to observe him in action and give him advice: for example, while catching bullpen sessions for major league pitchers like Aaron Nola and Ranger Suárez, Marchan's coaches would watch to see if he was giving away the pitches he called by taking on certain stances.[2] When the COVID-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the 2020 minor league season,[12] Marchan was one of several Phillies prospects invited to practice at an alternate training site in Allentown, Pennsylvania, where he was available for a major league call-up in case something happened to Phillies catchers J. T. Realmuto or Andrew Knapp.[9] When Realmuto began to experience hip soreness that September, prior to a doubleheader against the Miami Marlins, Marchan was called up between games 1 and 2.[13] He made his MLB debut the next day, recording a single in the third inning for his first major league hit.[14] At 21 years and 202 days old, Marchan was the youngest catcher to start in an MLB game during his debut, 109 days younger than Alejandro Kirk when the latter started behind the plate for the Toronto Blue Jays two days earlier.[15] Four days later, Marchan hit his first professional home run. Because no fans were allowed in Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies had been commemorating all home runs in 2020 by placing a cardboard cutout of the player in the location where the ball had landed; with no picture of Marchan available on such short notice, they instead drew a stick figure with the name "Marchan" on a piece of cardboard to mark the landing site for his home run.[9] Marchan went 4-for-8 in three MLB games during the protracted 2020 season,[16] and at the end of the year, Baseball America named him the Phillies' fifth-highest prospect.[8]

Ultimately, the Phillies did re-sign Realmuto and Marchan entered spring training in 2021 behind both Realmuto and Andrew Knapp on the team's depth chart at catcher.[17] Marchan sustained a hamstring injury during spring training and ultimately was sent to minor league camp in late March.[18] Marchan began the 2021 season with the Lehigh Valley IronPigs of Triple-A East, where he batted batted .203, and was subsequently demoted to the Reading Fightin Phils of Double-A Northeast. He returned to the Major Leagues in August 2021 and started at catcher as Realmuto and Knapp both struggled with injuries.

Marchan began the 2022 season in Triple-A after not making the Opening Day roster out of spring. On April 7, 2022, Marchan was placed on the 60-day injured list with a left hamstring strain.[19] On June 12, Marchan was activated from the injured list and optioned to Lehigh Valley.[20] He did not appear for the Phillies during the 2022 season, instead hitting .233 with 4 home runs and 29 RBI in 66 games for Triple–A Lehigh Valley.

Marchan was placed on the 60-day injured list to begin the 2023 season after suffering a fractured right hamate bone in spring training. As a result, Garrett Stubbs began the year as the primary backup to Realmuto.[21] After a rehab stint with High–A Clearwater,[22] Marchan was activated from the injured list on June 20 and optioned to Triple–A.[23]

After an injury to Realmuto landed him on the injured list, Marchan was recalled to the majors for the first time since 2021 on June 11, 2024. He had previously served as the 27th man during the Phillies series in London.[24] Marchan played 17 games with the Phillies before being optioned to Lehigh Valley when Realmuto returned on July 20. [25]

Personal life

[edit]

Marchan resides in Caracas, Venezuela.[26] His hobbies include playing basketball and spending time at the beach.[8]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Rafael Marchan Stats, Fantasy and News". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Gelb, Matt (February 28, 2020). "Rafael Marchan catches a spring break and is learning, loving every minute of it". The Athletic. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  3. ^ a b c Salisbury, Jim (March 28, 2019). "Rafael Marchan Shows Promise Behind The Plate". Baseball America. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c d "Rafael Marchan Minor & Winter Leagues Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  5. ^ Rupert, Mitch (August 14, 2018). "19-year-old Marchan one of the Cutters' most complete players". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  6. ^ Rupert, Mitch (August 15, 2018). "All 6 Cutters on the All-Star team play key role in win". Williamsport Sun-Gazette. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  7. ^ "Williamsport Crosscutters name 2018 award winners". The Express. Lock Haven, PA. September 11, 2018. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  8. ^ a b c Clark, Bonnie, ed. (2021). 2021 Philadelphia Phillies Media Guide (PDF). Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Phillies. pp. 124–125. Archived (PDF) from the original on April 3, 2021. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  9. ^ a b c Breen, Matt (September 19, 2020). "Phillies catcher Rafael Marchan's first home run was a long time coming". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  10. ^ Clemens, Ben (September 22, 2020). "Rafael Marchan Powers Up". Fangraphs. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  11. ^ Salisbury, Jim (August 3, 2020). "Rafael Marchan Finds A Suppoerter In Joe Girardi". Baseball America. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  12. ^ West, Jenna (June 30, 2020). "Minor League Baseball's 2020 Season Canceled". Sports Illustrated. Archived from the original on November 18, 2020. Retrieved June 17, 2021.
  13. ^ Seidman, Corey (September 13, 2020). "Phillies call up catcher prospect with J.T. Realmuto injured". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  14. ^ Zolecki, Todd (September 14, 2020). "Despite losses, Phils confident: 'We're in this'". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  15. ^ "Player Batting Game Finder". Stathead. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  16. ^ "Rafael Marchan Stats". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved November 23, 2021.
  17. ^ Morgenstern, Leo (March 16, 2021). "2021 Player Previews: Andrew Knapp and Rafael Marchan". The Good Phight. SBNation.com. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  18. ^ Salisbury, Jim (March 24, 2021). "Another sign from Phils camp that Realmuto will be ready for opener". NBC Sports Philadelphia. Retrieved April 7, 2021.
  19. ^ "Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Recalled, placed on 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved January 15, 2023.
  20. ^ "Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Activated and optioned". cbssports.com. Retrieved February 26, 2023.
  21. ^ "Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Placed on 60-day IL". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  22. ^ "Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Cleared for rehab games". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  23. ^ "Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Activated and optioned". cbssports.com. Retrieved June 23, 2023.
  24. ^ "Phillies' Rafael Marchan: Back in big leagues". www.cbssports.com. Retrieved June 12, 2024.
  25. ^ "Phillies catcher J.T. Realmuto off IL after meniscus recovery". ABC News. July 20, 2024. Retrieved July 21, 2024.
  26. ^ Salisbury, Jim (March 28, 2019). "A Converted Catcher, Phillies' Rafael Marchan Shows Promise Behind The Plate". baseballamerica.com. Baseball America. Retrieved September 15, 2020.
[edit]
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rafael_Marchán&oldid=1249477212"