Rafael Alejandro Marchan, born February 25, 1999, is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies (MLB).
Marchan, at 16, signed as an amateur free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2015. Originally an infielder, he transitioned to catcher and wowed scouts and coaches with his defensive abilities early in his minor league career.
Despite never having played above the minor league Class A-Advanced level, he entered major league spring training and finally made his major league debut in September 2020, hitting his first career home run on September 18.
He was demoted to the minor levels before the start of the 2021 season and was considered among the top five prospects in the Phillies’ farm system in 2020.
After impressing manager Joe Girardi, himself a former catcher, Marchan was invited to the Phillies’ 2020 spring training. Rather than being poised for a promotion, the team used the opportunity to observe him in action and give him advice: for example, while catching bullpen sessions for major league pitchers like Aaron Nola and Ranger Suárez, Marchan’s coaches would watch to see if he was giving away the pitches he called by taking on certain stances.
Rafael Marchan does not have any children at the moment, at his age, he is currently focusing on his career at the Philadelphia Phillies.