Spring Training: Max Kepler, Brandon Marsh dinged up in windy win for Phillies

SARASOTA, Fla. - The wind was a factor at Ed Smith Ballpark, Spring Training home of the Baltimore Orioles, on Sunday, leaving two Phillies outfielders with some bumps and bruises and forcing manager Rob Thomson to lift them from the game early. 

Both incidents occurred in the bottom of the first inning of the Phillies 12-1 win. With wind blowing steadily at more than 20 MPH, Brandon Marsh, was trying to circle under a fly ball by Baltimore leadoff hitter Jordan Westburg, and stumbled to the ground. 

"It was ice out on the track," Marsh said. "The first step I took, I just completely lost my footing and just came down and banged my knee pretty good. Nothing serious, just banged it pretty good on what felt like gravel out there."

Marsh remained in the game until the bottom of the third inning when he was replaced by Cal Stevenson. In the top of the third inning, Marsh scored from first on a double by Kody Clemens. 

"When I got going, it was good," Marsh said. "It just got a little tight from banging it on the ground."

The Phillies said he was removed from the game for precautionary reasons with a left knee contusion, which likely occurred when he fell to the warning track two innings earlier. 

Marsh said if it were a regular season game, he would have stayed in the contest. In fact, he said he needed to talk to manager Rob Thomson, but he planned on playing tomorrow when the Phillies host the Blue Jays at Bay Care Ballpark.

Turns out, that's not happening. 

Thomson said he's going to Keep Marsh out of the lineup, purely for precautionary reasons - ditto Max Kepler, who was also scheduled to play Monday, but was the other outfielder dinged up on Sunday.

Later in the first inning, Kepler crashed into the left field wall awkwardly while making a catch on a fly ball hit by Ryan Mountcastle.

Kepler caught the ball for the final out of the inning, but hit the fence at a weird angle. He fell to the ground and took a minute to get up, but eventually did and left the field under his own power, jogging slowly alongside Marsh.

"The wind made it make a hard right turn," Kepler said. "Initially I didn't even think he hit it that well and I was playing it like a line drive over my head and just breaking back and then when I got to the track, all of the sudden, it took a right hand turn and I tried to adjust and before I knew it, I was hitting the wall." 

He was replaced in the second inning by Christian Arroyo. 

The Phillies announced that Kepler was also lifted for precautionary reasons, and his was because of a lower back contusion.

Kepler said it was to his lower left side of his back, which is why it was so awkward, considering he was catching the ball over his right shoulder. 

He said it feels like it would feel if he got hit by a pitch, but, like Marsh, he also said he would likely have played through it were it a regular season game.  

"We're at that time (in Spring Training) where's they've had plenty of at bats and good at bats that I don't want to do anything to mess up the rhythm and timing of their swings," Thomson said about keeping them both out of the game tomorrow.

From @AntSanPhilly: Matt Strahm says 'I think I'm ready now,' but Phillies may want to be cautioushttps://t.co/WWzlOjtaP1

— On Pattison (@OnPattison) March 16, 2025

Miscellaneous

• Jesus Luzardo had a strong outing for the Phillies. He pitched four innings and allowed just one run - a solo homer by Ramon Laureano. Luzardo threw 53 pitches and will have one more start this spring before the teams head north. The Phillies batted around in the top of the third inning and plated eight runs in what was an especially long inning. Luzardo was appreciated of the run support, but even more so for the opportunity to see how he would throw after sitting for a long half inning. "That's something I was thinking about - just getting accustomed to that again," he said. "It's been a while for me, so happy to get one under my belt and understand, you know, what it takes and what it feels like to get going again.
• Nabil Crismatt had another impressive inning as he remains the last non-roster invite reliever in camp that the Phillies are considering using at some point this season in the bullpen. But there's one more guy who has entered the race for a spot on the Opening Day roster in case Matt Strahm isn't ready a week from Thursday... 
• Kyle Tyler has quietly put together an excellent Spring and he remains in camp as well. Tyler threw a 1-2-3 inning, and has now tossed 7 2/3 scoreless innings this spring. The Phillies claimed Tyler, 28, off waivers from the Miami Marlins last August. He started seven games for the Marlins in 2024 and the Phillies ultimately think of him as starting pitching depth, but Thomson said after the game Sunday that he's in the mix for a bullpen role as well, if needed. "He's a strike thrower and his secondary pitches are good," Thomson said. "He's got a unique fastball, it's got a lot of natural cut to it. He's pretty effective. I don't think the hitters see his fast ball that well."   

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