The baby-face photo might be ‘embarrassing,’ but Brandon Marsh loves having his mom there for support

Sonja Marsh has been an unwavering supporter, attending every one of her son Brandon’s postseason games.

What makes her support even more unique is the merchandise she wears. During Game 6, Sonja appeared on the Phillies broadcast sporting a massive pin featuring a baby-faced Brandon Marsh.

Reflecting on his clean-shaven appearance from the past, Brandon jokingly remarked, “I would say it’s a bit embarrassing, but that’s what I looked like without all this. But, no, I love it. It’s all fun. She loves it, too, so that’s all that matters.”

The 25-year-old Phillies left fielder texted his mother on Tuesday morning for a little pep talk before Game 7 of the National League Championship Series against the Diamondbacks.

He expressed his gratitude towards his mother, stating, “She’s awesome. She’s my biggest supporter, and I love having her here for all of this.”

Marsh entered Tuesday’s game with an impressive .343 batting average this postseason, making him the second highest among the Phillies’ everyday starters. Despite historically struggling against left-handed pitchers, Marsh has managed to achieve a .500 batting average against them in the playoffs. Though this data is based on a small sample size of only six plate appearances, Marsh, who struck out 39% of the time against lefties this season, has yet to strike out during the playoffs.

Manager Rob Thomson commented on Marsh’s performance, saying, “Right now, he’s showing great patience at the plate. He’s using the entire field and getting his bat out in front. His timing and vision are on point.”

However, if the Phillies advance to the World Series, Sonja will face a difficult decision. Brandon’s sister Erin, a talented heptathlete, will be representing the U.S. at the Pan American Games in Santiago, Chile. Unfortunately, the event clashes with the potential World Series Games 4-6.

Brandon expressed his understanding, saying, “My mother will be in Chile for that because she can’t miss it. It’s exciting. She has the opportunity to watch two of her children excel in their respective sports. I’m just grateful that she’s able to do that.”

Erin, aged 24, was a standout athlete at Duke and currently holds the 60th rank in the world for women’s heptathlon.

Reflecting on their competitive upbringing, Brandon shared, “We’ve always pushed each other. She would come to football practice and challenge all the guys, beating us at times. Growing up, it was always a strong rivalry, but that’s what motivated us to reach where we are today.”