ATLANTA — Three injured Phillies are taking steps to return and two could begin rehab assignments over the next week.
Third-string receiver Rafael Marchan, out all season with a broken right hook bone, could begin a rehab assignment on Sunday, Phillies manager Rob Thomson said ahead of the series opener. team in Atlanta on Thursday.
First baseman Darick Hall could begin rehab early next week. Hall has been out since April 5, the Phillies’ sixth game of the season, with a sprained right thumb that required surgery. Hall injured his thumb trying to turn a single into a double at Yankee Stadium.
Marchan and Hall will begin their rehab missions in Clearwater.
Phillies top reliever Jose Alvarado threw a flat bullpen session on Monday and a regular bullpen session off a mound Wednesday in Philadelphia. He will throw another ‘pen on Saturday in Atlanta. If it goes well, Alvarado will move into live batting practice once the Phillies are in New York for a Tuesday-Thursday series.
Just based on the timeline, it doesn’t seem particularly likely that Alvarado will return on the Phillies’ three-city road trip to eastern Newfoundland. Although he was to begin a rehab assignment in the middle of next week, a return when the Phillies return home on June 5 is more realistic.
Marchan, 24, is the only receiver on the Phillies’ 40-man roster other than JT Realmuto and Garrett Stubbs and is a key piece in depth. Once he’s healthy, he’ll likely report to Triple A to play behind the plate every day.
It will be interesting to see how Hall adapts once he is ready to return. Bryce Harper is the everyday DH, so Hall’s only place is first base. While he was sidelined, the Phillies used Alec Bohm at first base with Edmundo Sosa at third, and they also started Bohm at third with Kody Clemens at first against the right-handed pitcher. Clemens has been a pleasant surprise, hitting .316 in his last 11 starts with two doubles, four home runs and 10 RBIs.