Phillies Mailbag: Schwarber, Marsh, Walker’s Role

We are back once again with the 97.3 ESPN Phillies Mailbag.  We take your questions and answer them on The Sports Bash with Mike Gill.  Tune in each Tuesday afternoon to hear your questions answered on the air.   As questions at any time on X at @FrankKlose or on Blue Sky @frankklose.bsky.social.

How much will we see Kyle Schwarber in the field this year?
~Tony

At this point I think it's fair to conclude one thing:  More than last year.  So far in Spring Training the Phillies have been working on increasing Schwarber's versatility.

In 2024, Schwarber appeared in the field just five times.  It was in one of those starts that Schwarber pulled a groin muscle playing defense.  It suggested that his body was not conditioned to the field and might have contributed to the injury.

Schwarber has made starts at first base and left field.  Should Schwarber be able to take up a place in the field, the Phillies would have more options with the designated hitter spot.

That will keep the likes of Bryce Harper and J.T. Realmuto fresher should they get designated hitter opportunities.

I think how often Schwarber plays in the field might depend somewhat on Max Kepler.  Should Kepler be producing, they would not want to get him out of the lineup.  I'm somewhat surprised the Phillies have not given Kepler opportunities in center field, especially with Johan Rojas unable to play the field.

It's worth noting that the Phillies will pay for Schwarber in the field somewhat... he is a negative 10.8 WAR in the field in his career.   Schwarber had the highest WAR of his career in 2024, thanks in part to focusing on offense.

I would imagine, however, the Phillies will send their nine best out there in the playoffs, and that would be Schwarber at designated hitter.  If the Phillies can still win the division even with a few defensive blips, they'll be fine.

With Justin Crawford on the doorstep knocking for 2026 and Topper’s comments recently do you see Brandon Marsh finally playing every day in 2025?
~Jesse

On a recent Philadelphia radio interview, Phillies manager Rob Thomson had high praise for Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh (via Section 215):

“I hope he realizes how great of an athlete he is and how great of a player and potential superstar he could be,” Thomson said. “If he thinks that way, he’s got a better chance of getting there.”

2025 will be a pivotal year for Marsh, who indeed will need to help show how he fits into the Phillies future plans.

The top Phillies outfield prospect is Justin Crawford, who plays center field.  The Phillies signed Max Kepler this past offseason to be the left fielder, meaning that Marsh must take hold of the center field position in order to hold it.

Marsh got off to a really hot start in 2024, with a .817 OPS in the full month of April (and with an .833 OPS in two March games).   In June Marsh hit to an .836 OPS.  But there were some clear holes in his game.

On the season as a whole, Marsh batted just .192 against left-handed pitching.  In May he has a .668 OPS and July .645, showing his inconsistency.  Marsh was just 1 for 13 in the postseason.

Marsh will need to show he can hit left-handed pitching in 2025.

I would also think that Marsh should also be sure to utilize his speed.  He stole 19 bases in 2024, getting caught just three times.  That is a tool that he will be able to show he belongs in the major leagues with.

That said, Kepler signed to just a one-year deal.  Both Crawford and Marsh can exist in the same outfield if Marsh does play to his potential.  Marsh can let the Phillies know that he belongs beyond 2025 with his play.

So what happens with Taijuan Walker? 1. Trade him and pay some of his salary? 2. He's in the rotation, they go with a 6 man? 3. He's in the rotation and Ranger or someone else goes to pen? 4. He's a long man out of pen, despite supposedly takes too long to warm-up? 5. Agrees to start at Lehigh?
~Kevin

Taijuan Walker was the first Phillies pitcher this spring to go longer than three innings.  On Saturday against the Blue Jays, Walker went 3 1/3 innings, allowing one earned run on a solo home run.  He did not walk a batter.

But most importantly, his velocity is back to where it was when he found success early on in his Phillies career.

We know that there is one bullpen spot on the Phillies roster up for grabs.  Now that Matt Strahm might open the season on the Injured List, there could now be two spots open in the bullpen.

I would not be worried about how long it takes him to warm up.

Think of it this way: a starter comes in, and by the third inning gets into trouble.  A reliever would be needed to get them out of the jam no matter what.

Walker could start warming to go longer behind the starter, whereas another reliever could put out the fire in front of him.

The Phillies have a potential long man already in Joe Ross, who worked as both a starter and reliever for Milwaukee last season.  Maybe Ross remains in that role.

If so, it's difficult to rule out that Walker cannot relieve.  He has made just eight relief appearance in his major league career, total.  Four of them were last year.  He could adapt.

Hopefully the Phillies starting rotation remains injury-free.  But if not, maybe Walker gets another chance to start.  It could realistically happen.

But thinking back to my point late last season: If the Phillies cut Walker and he had a rebound for another team on the Phillies' dime, how foolish would the Phillies look if he worked out there?

Their patience just may pay off this year.