Brandon Marsh began the 2022 season on the Los Angeles Angels, a team that hadn’t been to the postseason in seven years despite being home to two of the best baseball players in the world in Mike Trout and Shohei Ohtani. At the trade deadline, he was sent to the Philadelphia Phillies.
At the time, the Phillies held an even longer postseason drought than the Angels, as they had not played in a playoff game since 2011. Just three months later, the Phillies are three wins away from winning the 2022 World Series against the Houston Astros after a magical postseason run.
Marsh has been the team’s starting center fielder throughout the Phillies’ playoff success, a role that — at one time — seemed destined to belong to Trout. A New Jersey native and lifelong Phillies fan, Trout’s homecoming was a legitimate rumor for several years before signing his 10-year extension in Anaheim.
Now that the role belongs to Marsh and not Trout, the Angels superstar center fielder could have shown some buyers’ remorse. Instead, he’s been nothing but congratulatory towards his former teammate, according to Bill Shaikin of The L.A. Times:
Marsh said he was shocked to be traded from the Angels in August, blessed to be in the World Series, and grateful to Trout. After the Phillies clinched their World Series berth, Marsh said Trout sent a congratulatory text.
Marsh then raved about the relationship he’s built with Trout and the quality of person that one of this generation’s greatest players truly is.
“He’s been a great role model for me,” Marsh said. “He is a guy that I would like to have in my corner for as long as I can. That’s a dude I look up to for sure, on and off the field.
“Trouty is as good as it gets, as a person and player. He is one of a kind.”
Trout has long stated his desire to return to the postseason and fight for a chance to win the World Series. And the Angels have failed to provide him with the roster required to do so.
However, he has remained loyal to the Angels through it all, and firmly believes in their chances to build a contending team in 2023, a pivotal season for the franchise. So as he watched the Phillies attempt to secure the pennant, there’s no doubt he’s overjoyed watching Marsh succeed for his hometown team.
Mike Trout named finalist for Players Choice Award
Voted on entirely by players, the finalists were revealed for the 2022 Players Choice Awards. Trout, coming off of a significant calf injury in 2021 to have a near-1.000 OPS season, was named a finalist for the Comeback Player Award.
Matt Carpenter and Justin Verlander were the other two finalists in the American League.