Lou Marson

{{short description|American baseball player & coach (born 1986)}}

{{Infobox baseball biography

|name=Lou Marson

|image=Lou Marson 6-30-12.jpg

|caption=Marson playing for the Indians in 2012

|position=Catcher

|birth_date={{birth date and age|1986|6|26}}

|birth_place=Scottsdale, Arizona, U.S.

|bats=Right

|throws=Right

|debutleague=MLB

|debutdate=September 28

|debutyear=2008

|debutteam=Philadelphia Phillies

|finalleague=MLB

|finaldate=April 24

|finalyear=2013

|finalteam=Cleveland Indians

|statleague=MLB

|stat1label=Batting average

|stat1value=.219

|stat2label=Home runs

|stat2value=5

|stat3label=Runs batted in

|stat3value=60

|teams=

Philadelphia Phillies ({{mlby|2008}}–{{mlby|2009}})
Cleveland Indians ({{mlby|2009}}–{{mlby|2013}})

|medaltemplates=

{{MedalCountry | {{USA}} }}

}}

Louis Glenn Marson (born June 26, 1986) is an American former professional baseball catcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians, from {{by|2008}} through {{by|2013}}. Marson also played in the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Minor leagues

The Philadelphia Phillies drafted Marson in the fourth round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of Coronado High School in Scottsdale, Arizona.{{cite web |title=Amateur Draft: 4th Round of the 2004 June Draft |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=year_round&year_ID=2004&draft_round=4&draft_type=junreg |accessdate=April 11, 2009 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}} During 2004, he played with the Gulf Coast League Phillies instructional league team, where he ended the season with a seven-game hitting streak.{{Cite web |title=Lou Marson Stats, Age, Position, Height, Weight, Fantasy & News |url=https://www.mlb.com/player/lou-marson-453974 |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=MLB.com |language=en}} In 38 games, Marson amassed a total of 29 hits, including three doubles and four home runs, for a batting average of .257. He also stole four bases.{{cite web |title=Lou Marson Minor League Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/player.cgi?id=marson001lou |accessdate=April 11, 2009 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}} During his first full season in the Phillies' system, Marson played with the A-level Batavia Muckdogs. He played 60 games for the short-season squad, batting .245 with five home runs and three triples. He also drew 27 bases on balls{{cite web |title=Louis Marson |url=https://www.thebaseballcube.com/content/player/46331/ |accessdate=2025-03-19 |website=The Baseball Cube}} and hit .351 against left-handed pitchers.

Moving up to the South Atlantic League for the 2006 season, Marson had a team-leading five triples and four stolen bases, though his average fell to .243. He notched a four-hit game against the Hagerstown Suns, a four-RBI game in August against the Delmarva Shorebirds, and reached base safely in nearly every game in July. Marson had 85 hits in 350 at-bats in 2006 and added 29 walks for a .343 on-base percentage. Marson made his first appearance at the Phillies' spring training in 2007, after which he was assigned to the high-A Clearwater Threshers. He led the 2007 Threshers in batting average (.288) among qualifying players, hit 7 home runs and batted in 63 runs.{{cite web |title=2007 Clearwater Threshers Statistics |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/minors/team.cgi?id=15178 |accessdate=April 11, 2009 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}} He established himself as a solid fielder behind the plate, making only three errors in the final 37 games of the season and finishing with a fielding percentage of .982 for the season. After the 2007 season, Marson was recognized as one of the top ten prospects in the Phillies' minor league system by Baseball America.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/rankings/organization-top-10-prospects/2008/265168.html |title=Philadelphia Phillies: Top 10 Prospects |last=Kline |first=Chris |date=November 13, 2007 |magazine=Baseball America |accessdate=April 12, 2009}}

In 2008, Marson won the Paul Owens Award as the top minor league player in the Phillies' farm system. In 94 games behind the plate for the AA Reading Phillies, Marson batted .314 with five home runs and 18 doubles. He also walked 68 times. For his efforts, he was named to both the midseason and post-season Eastern League All-Star teams. He led that league, and all AA-level leagues, in on-base percentage with a .433 mark{{cite web |title=Lou Marson Top 50 Prospects Profile |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/minorleagues/prospects/y2009/profile.jsp?t=p_top&pid=453974 |accessdate=April 12, 2009 |website=MLB.com}} and posted a 14-game hitting streak at the end of May, during which he had a grand slam and six RBI in one game. A converted infielder with a strong arm,{{cite web |last=Martino |first=Andy |date=March 9, 2009 |title=Young catcher Marson learning from the ropes |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20090309_Young_catcher_Marson_learning_from_the_ropes.html |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312075115/http://www.philly.com/philly/sports/phillies/20090309_Young_catcher_Marson_learning_from_the_ropes.html |archivedate=March 12, 2009 |work=The Philadelphia Inquirer}} he allowed 30 baserunners in 83 stolen-base attempts for a steal percentage of 36%. The Phillies purchased Marson's contract at the conclusion of the 2008 Eastern League season, and he was called up to the majors for the postseason stretch run. After the season, the Phillies' farm system director, Steve Noworyta, said that Marson "continues, like fine wine, to get better as he ages."{{cite web |url=http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20081113&content_id=3677709&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |title=Phillies rich in outfield prospects |last=Winston |first=Lisa |date=November 14, 2008 |work=Phillies.MLB.com |publisher=Major League Baseball |accessdate=April 12, 2009}} His stock as a Baseball America prospect rose from eighth in the system to third,{{cite web |url=http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/235349 |title=A look at the Phillies' future stars |last=Stark |first=Eric G |date=March 22, 2009 |work=LancasterOnline.com |publisher=Sunday News |accessdate=April 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120731015320/http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/235349 |archive-date=July 31, 2012 |url-status=dead }} and he was named one of the top 50 prospects in Major League Baseball.

Marson and Reading teammate Jason Donald were selected to the United States national baseball team for the 2008 Olympics,{{cite web |url=http://www.philly.com/philly/blogs/phillies_zone/Marson_Donald_Headed_to_the_Olympics.html |title=Marson, Donald Headed to the Olympics |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=July 16, 2008 |website=The Philadelphia Inquirer |accessdate=April 11, 2009}} where they won the bronze medal.{{cite web |url=http://www.cbssports.com/olympics/story/10944103 |title=U.S. baseball team defeats Japan for bronze medal |date=August 23, 2008 |work=CBSSports.com |publisher=Associated Press |accessdate=April 11, 2009}} National team manager Davey Johnson said that "[he] really impressed me during (the Futures Game)… He caught the first three innings. We don't give the signs to the catcher. He told (pitcher) Brett Anderson to throw over to first and he picked (a runner off). His numbers are outstanding for a catcher—great offensive catcher—and I got reports that said everything about him is good."{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/athlete=1365/bio/ |title=Lou Marson Profile & Bio |publisher=NBC Sports |accessdate=April 12, 2009}}

Major leagues

=Philadelphia Phillies=

File:5TH 3689 Lou Marson.jpg

Marson was called up to the Phillies on September 1, 2008. He had his first major league hit off of Odalis Perez on September 28 against the Washington Nationals. He later scored his first run in the same inning. In the same game, he also hit his first big league home run off Marco Estrada.{{cite web |title=Philadelphia Phillies 8, Washington Nationals 3 |url=http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/2008/B09280PHI2008.htm |accessdate=April 11, 2009 |website=Retrosheet}} This was on the final day of the 2008 season; though Marson was not included on the World Series-winning roster,{{cite web |title=2008 World Series – PHI vs. TBR |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/2008_WS.shtml |accessdate=April 11, 2009 |work=Baseball-Reference.com}} he did travel with the team in case of injuries.{{cite web |url=http://www.kffl.com/player/16037/MLB |title=Lou Marson, C, Philadelphia Phillies |date=October 22, 2008 |publisher=KFFL |accessdate=April 12, 2009}} He did receive a World Series ring, in spite of all this.{{Cite web|url=http://philliesphollowers.mlblogs.com/2009/04/09/ring-ceremony-photos-news/|title=Ring Ceremony Photos & News|date=April 9, 2009}} After the end of the postseason, Marson participated in the Arizona Fall League, where he played for the Mesa Solar Sox.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/minors/winter-baseball/arizona-fall-league/2008/266760.html |title=Arizona Fall League Rosters |date=August 27, 2008 |magazine=Baseball America |accessdate=April 12, 2009}}

Marson participated in the major league 2009 spring training with the Phillies, where veteran starter Jamie Moyer expressed his pleasure with Marson's skills and ability to call the game. Assistant GM Chuck LaMar said that "[his] strength has actually become his ability to run the game… That is unique for a converted catcher. We think he's one of the finest catching prospects in baseball." Marson was reassigned to the minor leagues on March 23,{{cite web |url=http://www.kffl.com/player/16037/MLB |title=Lou Marson, C, Philadelphia Phillies |date=March 23, 2009 |publisher=KFFL |accessdate=April 12, 2009}} but was called up to the majors on April 11 to replace Carlos Ruiz, who injured his right oblique muscle.{{cite web |last=Zolecki |first=Todd |date=April 11, 2009 |title=Phillies place Ruiz on 15-day DL |url=http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090411&content_id=4224060&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413022353/http://philadelphia.phillies.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090411&content_id=4224060&vkey=news_phi&fext=.jsp&c_id=phi |archive-date=April 13, 2009 |work=MLB.com}} He went 1-for-4 in one game for the Lehigh Valley IronPigs before his call-up.

=Cleveland Indians=

On July 29, 2009, the Phillies traded Marson, along with Jason Donald, Carlos Carrasco, and Jason Knapp to the Cleveland Indians for Cliff Lee and Ben Francisco.{{cite web |url=http://zozone.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/07/lee_francisco_for_four_phillie.html |title=Lee, Francisco for Four Phillies Prospects |website=The Zo Zone |date=July 29, 2009 |accessdate=March 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090801090225/http://zozone.mlblogs.com/archives/2009/07/lee_francisco_for_four_phillie.html |archive-date=August 1, 2009 |url-status=dead }}

Over the next three seasons, Marson was a fixture behind the plate for Cleveland, playing in over 70 games in each of the 2010, 2011, and 2012 seasons—however, he struggled at the plate, never hitting higher than .230. After a 2013 season in which he only appeared in 3 games at the major league level, Marson was non-tendered by the Indians, becoming a free agent.{{Cite tweet |number=407671803448791040 |user=CleGuardians |title=#Indians today did not tender 2014 contracts to the following players: OF Matt Carson, C Lou Marson, RHP Tyler Cloyd. Roster is @ 38 players |author=Cleveland Guardians |author-link=Cleveland Guardians |date=2013-12-02 |access-date=2025-03-19}}

= Philadelphia Phillies (second stint) =

On December 18, 2013, Marson signed a minor league contract with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was released on March 14, 2014.{{Cite web |last=Somers |first=Aaron |date=2014-03-14 |title=Philadelphia Phillies release Lou Marson |url=https://calltothepen.com/2014/03/14/philadelphia-phillies-release-lou-marson/ |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=Call To The Pen |language=en-us}}

= Cincinnati Reds =

On May 8, 2014, Marson signed a minor league contract with the Cincinnati Reds.{{Cite web |last=Baer |first=Bill |date=2014-05-09 |title=Reds sign Shelley Duncan and Lou Marson to minor league deals |url=https://www.nbcsports.com/mlb/news/reds-sign-shelley-duncan-and-lou-marson-to-minor-league-deals |access-date=2025-03-19 |website=NBC Sports |language=en-US}} He became a free agent following the season. He re-signed a minor league deal with the Reds on January 30, 2015. He was released on June 22.

=Los Angeles Angels=

On February 8, 2016, Marson signed a minor league contract with the Los Angeles Angels. He became a free agent following the season.

Coaching career

Marson served as hitting coach of the Salt Lake Bees, the Los Angeles Angels' Triple-A affiliate, in 2017. The next year, he managed the Mobile BayBears, their Double-A affiliate. In 2019, the Angels named Marson the manager of Salt Lake.{{cite web |title=Bees, Angels Announce 2019 Field Staff |url=https://www.milb.com/salt-lake/news/bees-angels-announce-2019-field-staff-304040406 |website=Salt Lake Bees |publisher=Minor League Baseball (milb.com) |access-date=February 19, 2019}}