Philadelphia Phillies Outfielder Brandon Marsh currently leads all of MLB in batting average. After several seasons of being a platoon player, Marsh is finally getting the opportunity to hit both left-handed and right-handed pitching. His numbers against lefties are at a career high, while his batting metrics against right-handers are among some of baseball’s best players.
After the team reached a season-worst 10 games under .500, the Phillies shook things up by firing manager Rob Thompson. Under Thompson’s lead, Marsh was usually seen as a platoon player, only facing right-handed hitters and very rarely seeing lefties. Now under interim head coach Don Mattingly, Marsh is an everyday player, regardless of what pitcher the opposition is starting.
In 2025, Marsh started just 10 games against left-handed pitching, with a total of 88 plate appearances all year. This, in large part, was due to his struggles against southpaws, batting just .197 last season. Thompson believed the idea of platooning would work for the Phillies, and though it had its moments of brightness, Marsh never truly got the chance to improve, as he often rode the bench in a platoon role.
Marsh held a 13-game hit streak that was tops in MLB at the time, but lost it Wednesday night in Boston as the Phillies’ offense was stifled by Sonny Gray. Since Mattingly’s promotion and Marsh becoming an everyday player, he is batting .429 with 12 runs scored and 21 hits. He also currently leads the league in batting average at .343 while holding a strong .864 OPS entering play on Thursday.
Thanks to the blossoming of Marsh’s offense, along with teammates Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper displaying their all-star capabilities, the Phillies are finally trending in the right direction. The team currently resides at 20-23, which, while still disappointing for the roster that features some of the top talent in the league, is much better than just two weeks ago. The offense will have to continue to do its job if the Phillies hope to catch the dominant Braves.
Marsh’s offensive numbers will certainly drop as the season continues, though not nearly as far down as his career numbers indicate. If Marsh continues to get the chance to play every day, even against left-handers, Marsh could finish with a batting average around .285. He certainly has the talent and the power to be among the Phillies best hitters in the lineup alongside Trea Turner, Kyle Schwarber and Bryce Harper.
With the right-handed options that the Phillies have on the bench struggling as of late, Marsh will almost certainly continue to get the bulk of the starts in left field. He has power that most do not realize and can finish the season with 20 home runs, which would be a career high.
Marsh is an integral part of the Phillies and is one of the biggest reasons why the club is turning the season around after its abysmal start. He is one of the biggest pieces of the Phillies lineup as a great middle-of-the-order hitter, while playing a stellar defensive left field. It would be unsurprising to see Marsh represent the Phillies when the city hosts the All-Star game in July, as he continues to show amazing growth at the plate.
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