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Brandon Marsh has a kid-like quality in the way he plays and enjoys baseball, so it’s easy to imagine him playing Wiffle Ball as a kid in his backyard pretending to be and dreaming of one day being an All-Star. “You always want to be an All-Star,” Marsh said Sunday morning at Kauffman Stadium. “You always want to call yourself an All-Star growing up.” Marsh not only learned he made his first All-Star team on Saturday night, but he learned he will be in the starting lineup at Citizens Bank Park on July 14, too. Marsh is the first Phillies outfielder selected to a starting spot since Raul Ibañez in 2009. |
“It’s a really special moment,” Marsh said. Marsh entered Sunday batting .310 with 15 home runs, 46 RBIs and an .857 OPS. It’s hard to believe, but he was batting .095 (4-for-42) when he went on the injured list on April 20, 2025, with a strained right hamstring. He rejoined the team on May 3, 2025. He has hit .306 with an .846 OPS in 170 games since. “It could show you that anything's possible,” Marsh said. “Just going from the bottom of the bottom and now being here, it’s inspiring. A lot of people have done it in the past, and I try to follow in their footsteps.” Marsh on Sunday thanked his teammates, coaches, managers and others for getting him to this point in his life and career. He said he got countless text messages, including a few blasts from the past. |
But Marsh thanked his family, too. He was asked what he thought his father might think about his All-Star appearance. Jake Marsh Jr. died from cancer in 2021. “He was one of my biggest, if not my biggest, supporter growing up,” Marsh said. “Put him and my mom right there with each other. He obviously grew up, he played the game. He didn't play after high school, but he loved ball. He knew the game. Yeah, you know, I think he's got the best seat in the house. He gets to watch from the front row. I think he'd be super proud. It’s a big reason why I do it.” |
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MLB MORNING LINEUP PODCAST |
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Two Phillies have been named All-Star MVPs. Kyle Schwarber won the award in 2025 in Atlanta. Who won the other? A. Jim Bunning B. Von Hayes C. Johnny Callison D. Dick Allen |
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BIG DAY FOR THE WATHAN FAMILY |
The Royals inducted former player, coach, manager and broadcaster John Wathan into the Hall of Fame on Saturday. Wathan’s son Dusty is the Phillies’ bench coach. Dusty narrated a tribute video show during the ceremony. “I’m proud of all my kids, but for Dusty especially, he’s a guy who was non-drafted and played 14 years in the Minor Leagues,” John Wathan said. “Then he managed 10 years in the Minor Leagues, so 24 years in the Minor Leagues, and now he’s in his ninth year as a coach for the Phillies in the big leagues, finally after 24 years. Non-drafted guys don’t usually last that long. It’s usually a couple of years, with a new class coming in all the time, each year, and he’s had a lot of stick-to-itiveness to be able to last that long.” |
• Andrew Painter allowed four hits, one run and struck out six in six innings on Saturday with Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Asked if if Painter's time in Triple-A could be quick, if he showed significant improvement, Don Mattingly said, “I think everything’s on the table. I never got any feeling it was send him out and forget about him. He was sent down to work on stuff and help him get better.” • Brad Keller could rejoin the Phillies’ bullpen on Tuesday in Cincinnati. He made his second rehab appearance on Sunday with the IronPigs. • The Phillies signed outfielder Bryan De La Cruz to a Major League contract, then optioned him to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. (De La Cruz could have left the organization via an opt-out clause.) The deal allows the outfield-thin Phillies to keep him in the system. To make room for De La Cruz on the 40-man roster, the organization designated right-hander Jean Cabrera for assignment. The Phillies touted Cabrera as rotation depth this spring. He has a combined 9.10 ERA in 15 starts this season with the IronPigs and Double-A Reading. |
ON THIS DAY IN PHILLIES HISTORY |
The Phillies needed 4 hours, 30 minutes to beat the Pirates in Pittsburgh, 17-5, on July 6, 2018. It tied the National League record for the longest nine-inning game in history. The Phillies scattered 18 hits and 10 walks in the win. Odúbel Herrera and Andrew Knapp each homered. |
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C. Johnny Callison
He hit a three-run, walk-off home run to win the All-Star Game in 1964. |
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