The Kid From Buford

Angel Stadium, July 2021

Eight people flew in from the East Coast for Brandon Marsh's major-league debut. His family brought an urn with his father Jake's ashes — Jake had died of cancer in April 2021, after years of illness that began with a tongue tumor. A close friend carried the football jersey of Marsh's best friend, who had died unexpectedly two months earlier, fulfilling a promise the friends had made.

Marsh grew up in Buford, Georgia, the son of Jake and Sonja. At Buford High School he grew from 5-foot-9 to 6-foot-4 while starring in football, basketball, and baseball. The Angels drafted him in the second round, 60th overall, in 2016 — he had initially committed to Kennesaw State, then signed for $1.07 million.

The Number

On April 12, 2026, in his sixth big-league season, Marsh collected his 500th career hit. He debuted with the Angels in July 2021 and spent two seasons in Anaheim before the August 2, 2022 trade that sent him to Philadelphia for catching prospect Logan O'Hoppe. He has been a Phillie since — five seasons now, and this year, at 28, he made his first All-Star team.

What the Clubhouse Knows

After an ordinary spring training game in Clearwater, Marsh walked through a dark tunnel under the stands and emerged singing — "Baseball is fuuuuuuunnnnnnn" — before entering the clubhouse. Teammates describe him as the one who has the most fun, always smiling, never in a bad mood. After Buford High lost the state championship his senior year, opposing players and parents lined up for photos and autographs. Marsh stayed an hour, obliging every request. His coach said it reflected his father's humble makeup.

He is 28, an All-Star for the first time, playing outfield in Philadelphia.

Reporting: The Athletic, Los Angeles Times, MLB.com, Wikipedia. Career and biographical data: MLB StatsAPI, via the Fever engine.