ATLANTA – Three injured Phillies are taking steps to return and two could begin rehabilitation assignments within a week.
Third-string catcher Rafael Marchan, out all season with a broken right leg, could begin a rehab assignment Sunday, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said ahead of the team’s series opener in Atlanta Thursday.
First baseman Darick Hall could begin his rehabilitation assignment early next week. Hall has been out since April 5, the Phillies’ sixth game of the season, with a right thumb sprain that required surgery. Hall injured his thumb trying to convert a single into a double at Yankee Stadium.
Both Marchan and Hall begin their rehabilitation assignments in Clearwater.
The Phillies’ leading reliever, Jose Alvarado, pitched a flat-ground bullpen session on Monday and a regular bullpen session from a hill in Philly on Wednesday. He throws another pen in Atlanta on Saturday. If that goes well, Alvarado will continue throwing live batting practice once the Phillies arrive in New York for a series Tuesday through Thursday.
Based on the timeline alone, it doesn’t seem very likely that Alvarado will be back during the Phillies’ three-city NL East road trip. Even if he were to begin rehab midway through next week, a return when the Phillies are back home on June 5 is more realistic.
Marchan, 24, is the only catcher on the Phillies’ 40-man roster other than JT Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs and is an important piece of depth. Once he is healthy, he will probably report to Triple A to play behind the plate every day.
It’ll be interesting to see how Hall fits in when he’s ready to return. Bryce Harper is the day-to-day DH, so Hall’s only spot is first base. While he was offside, the Phillies have used Alec Bohm on first base with Edmundo Sosa on third, and they have also started Bohm on third base with Kody Clemens on first base against right-handed pitching. Clemens was a pleasant surprise, batting .316 over his last 11 starts with two doubles, four home runs and 10 RBI.