Phillies Alec Bohm celebrates with his teammates after getting the game winning extra innings RBI hit to beat the New York Mets 5-4 on Friday, Sept. 22, 2023 in Philadelphia.
The Philadelphia Phillies have been plagued by injuries recently, with Trea Turner (hamstring), Brandon Marsh (hamstring), and J.T. Realmuto (right meniscus tear) all spending time on the IL in the past month.
With Realmuto expected to be out for at least four weeks, the Phillies will rely on backup catcher Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán, who was called up from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Realmuto’s spot on the roster.
Losing Realmuto is a significant blow to a team already missing its everyday number two hitter after Turner’s injury in May. The Phillies hope Stubbs and Marchán can fill Realmuto’s role both behind the plate and offensively as he works his way back to the lineup.
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Garrett Stubbs has become a key figure and a popular personality in the Phillies clubhouse over the past few seasons. Known for his antics and celebrations, fans have embraced his playful character, often wearing overalls to games in his honor.
However, Stubbs is a backup catcher who typically plays sparingly, with Realmuto averaging 135 games per season as the primary catcher. Stubbs’ current .188 batting average with 12 hits, no home runs, and three RBIs in 64 at-bats raises questions about whether fans will remain enamored if his offensive struggles continue.
Stubbs is aware of his predicament as he prepares for increased playing time. He described a candid conversation with hitting coach Kevin Long about his struggles at the plate. “I mean, to put it bluntly, I told him [Long], ‘Hey, I’m being a (expletive) right now. So, I need to stop being an (expletive),'” Stubbs explained to Alex Coffey of The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Stubbs feels he has been pressing at the plate, resulting in a rough start through his first 64 at-bats of the season. As a bench player, it is challenging to get into a rhythm with limited at-bats. “It’s tough not to feel that way because over the last few years, I’ve gotten 120 (at bats),” said Stubbs. “So one AB [for me] is a lot more than the next guy. But I want to have good offensive numbers because I want to help the team.”
Until Realmuto returns in July, Stubbs will share catching duties with Marchán, who recently hit his first home run since the 2021 season in a 5-3 extra-inning victory over the Baltimore Orioles. It remains to be seen if Marchán’s performance will complicate the decision-making process when Realmuto is ready to return.
