The Philadelphia Phillies pulled two outfielders from their spring training game against the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday due to injuries.
Max Kepler and Brandon Marsh both exited early and provided updates to reporters after the game.
Kepler, who joined the Phillies as a free agent during the offseason, was removed from the game after a concerning collision with the outfield wall while making a catch in the first inning. Although Kepler walked off the field under his own power, he did not return to the game. Later, he told reporters, including MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki, that he had a bruised lower back.
“I’m all right,” Kepler said. “At this point, it’s just a bruise. That’s what it feels like. Kind of like I got hit by a pitch.”
With Weston Wilson sidelined by injury and Johan Rojas struggling in spring training, it’s crucial for Kepler to stay healthy. In 25 spring at-bats, he is hitting .360/.484/.800 with three home runs and nine RBIs.
Marsh left the game in the third inning after slipping on the warning track in left-center field, injuring his left knee in both the first and third innings. He mentioned that the warning track felt “like ice.”
Marsh described his injury as a bruised knee.
Both players stated that if it had been a regular season game, they would have continued playing. However, with only one week remaining in spring training, they didn’t want to risk further injury.
Kepler, who signed a one-year, $10 million deal, is beginning to look like a great bargain for Philadelphia, especially given the team’s lack of major moves to add power to their lineup. Kepler, a former 36-home-run hitter in 2019, has 161 career home runs and has hit 20 or more homers in three seasons. He also has significant gap power, with 205 career doubles across 10 seasons, including at least 20 doubles in seven seasons.
Marsh, acquired by the Phillies in 2022 through a trade, may not match Kepler’s power but provides versatility in the outfield. His ability to play multiple positions allows Kyle Schwarber to stay in the designated hitter role while Marsh’s reliable glove contributes to the team’s defense.