Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Brandon Marsh is having the strongest season of his career, but one national prediction suggests that his breakout may still not be enough to earn him an All-Star selection. After Philadelphia stumbled to a 9-19 start, the club has surged back to 35-30 and into the National League Wild Card race, with Marsh emerging as an important part of the turnaround alongside stars such as Cristopher Sanchez, Kyle Schwarber, Bryce Harper, Zack Wheeler and Jhoan Duran.
Marsh’s 2026 performance has been one of the bright spots for the Phillies. He is hitting .338, has eight home runs, owns an .890 OPS and has produced 2.1 bWAR, numbers that place him among the most productive outfielders in Major League Baseball. Based on those stats, many Phillies fans would expect him to be a strong candidate for the National League All-Star roster, especially with the Midsummer Classic being held in Philadelphia this year.
However, Jim Bowden of The Athletic projects Marsh to be left out of the All-Star Game. In Bowden’s forecast, seven other National League outfielders are expected to be selected ahead of him. James Wood is projected as the starting right fielder, with Corbin Carroll and Jordan Walker listed as reserve options. In center field, Andy Pages is predicted to start, while Michael Harris II and Pete Crow-Armstrong are expected to fill bench roles. Juan Soto is projected to start in left field.
Bowden’s prediction would be a frustrating outcome for Phillies supporters, especially because several of the projected selections are not matching Marsh’s production at the plate. Among the outfielders Bowden has placed ahead of him, Harris has the strongest batting average at .306, followed by Walker at .303. The rest are at .285 or lower, and Crow-Armstrong is hitting .258. In OPS, Wood, Carroll, Walker and Soto rank ahead of Marsh, but the others all trail his .890 mark, with Crow-Armstrong posting the lowest figure among the group at .784.
The case for Marsh is clear: he has been one of Philadelphia’s most reliable hitters this season and has helped stabilize a team that looked lost early in the year. Yet Bowden’s projection shows how crowded the National League outfield field is and how difficult it can be for even productive players to secure an All-Star spot. With the game set to take place in Philadelphia, Marsh’s omission would sting even more for the home crowd.
For now, Phillies fans will hope Marsh keeps performing at a high level and strengthens his case before All-Star selections are finalized. If he maintains his current pace, he could still force his way into the conversation and earn the recognition his season has warranted.
