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Recently, both Joc Pederson and Brandon Marsh of the Phillies have struggled to make an impact in their lineup, which is concerning for their respective teams.
This offseason, the Texas Rangers secured Joc Pederson to enhance their offensive lineup from the left side. Coming off a successful season with the Diamondbacks, where he recorded a .275 batting average, a .393 on-base percentage, and .515 slugging with 23 home runs, Pederson was expected to bring significant power, especially against right-handed pitchers. This addition aimed to complement what many anticipated would be a dynamic Rangers offense.
In contrast, Brandon Marsh has not been known for explosive offensive production, holding only 42 career home runs and a 102 OPS+. However, his strong defensive skills in center field have made him a valuable asset, consistently rated positively in Statcast’s “Outs Above Average” metric, aside from a minor dip in 2024. With limited depth in their outfield, the Phillies have relied on Marsh to maintain his defensive prowess and hope for offensive contributions. Even modest hitting alongside sluggers like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, and J.T. Realmuto could prove beneficial.
Regrettably, both players find themselves entrenched in hitting slumps, which could potentially lead to their removal from active lineups; Marsh has missed his past three games due to a knee issue.
Pederson hasn’t recorded a hit since April 2, where he managed an infield single against the Reds’ Hunter Greene. Since then, he has gone 0-for-36, walking three times while striking out eleven. On April 8, he made solid contact with a ball hit at 103.5 MPH to left field but was ultimately unsuccessful. Over several appearances, he has hit balls at impressive exit velocities—106.3 and 105.7 MPH—only to see them result in outs, unable to turn any of those into hits. His current statistics reflect a stark contrast to the offensive expectations placed on him.
Meanwhile, Marsh has yet to find the base paths in April, with his last hit being a single on March 30. Across fourteen games since then, he is 0-for-31, securing five walks but an exit velocity exceeding 100 MPH only twice in 38 plate appearances. This lack of offensive output is surprising given his speed and previous statistical potential.
As Marsh heads back to the dugout after another strikeout, the pressure mounts for both players.
Baseball is inherently a game marked by struggles and triumphs; difficulties at the plate are not uncommon. Historically, players frequently endure extended slumps. For instance, there have been numerous occurrences where hitters (excluding pitchers) have surpassed 30 at-bats without a hit. One of the most infamous cases is Chris Davis’ 54 consecutive at-bats without a hit from 2018 to 2019, which remains a notable example of a player’s struggle.
In previous seasons, Eugenio Vélez recorded 46 consecutive hitless at-bats, illustrating that long slumps have happened throughout baseball history. Notably, there were several instances tied for the next worst performance, at 45 at-bats, from players like Bill Bergen in 1909 and Craig Counsell in 2011, who despite not being known for their hitting prowess, experienced significant dry spells at the plate.
Pederson’s current struggles may not have been entirely unexpected, given his history of inconsistent batting tendencies. His strikeout rates have consistently surpassed the league average, and his batting average on balls in play (BAbip) has landed below league norms for much of his career. However, the degree of his current slump exceeds what many anticipated, putting additional pressure on him to improve, especially as the American League West grows increasingly competitive.
On the other hand, Marsh presents a puzzling case. While his home run total has never exceeded 16 in a season and his strikeout percentage is often above 30%, he boasts a career average of .252 alongside a BAbip of .367, indicating he possesses the potential to perform better. Given his speed, it seems feasible that he should be making more impactful plays on the field. Yet, as always, success in baseball is far from guaranteed.
For the Phillies, even if Marsh’s offensive contributions remain scarce, they are still positioned favorably within the competitive National League East. Nevertheless, Bolstering their lineup may be a consideration by president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski if Marsh’s performance continues to falter as the trade deadline approaches.
This weekend could provide a turning point for both Pederson and Marsh. A moment of inspiration or change could make all the difference as they seek to break free from their respective slumps.
Source
www.forbes.com