Phillies welcome Payton Henry in a promising 2024 signing.©(@SportsRadioWIP )
The Philadelphia Phillies have reached a minor league agreement with catcher Payton Henry, as noted in the MLB.com transaction log and confirmed by Henry via social media. The 27-year-old catcher brings previous significant league experience, appearing in 20 games for the Miami Marlins during the 2021-22 seasons. In those appearances, Henry posted a .186 batting average with one extra-base hit in 51 plate appearances.
Henry, a former sixth-round draft pick, has spent the last two seasons in Triple-A, playing in the Milwaukee Brewers system in 2022 and the Toronto Blue Jays organization in 2023. Henry’s time on the field this past season was significantly limited after a serious incident during a game on May 31. While catching for Triple-A Buffalo, Henry suffered a head injury from a hitter’s backswing, leading to his removal on a cart and hospitalization in Syracuse, New York. The game was subsequently canceled. Henry was released from the hospital the following day, but the injury sidelined him for three months.
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Despite the setback, Henry made a late-season return in mid-September, appearing in three games to close the year. Though his time was insufficient to earn an MLB call-up, Henry’s ability to get back on the field was crucial as he looked ahead to Spring Training.
Henry is expected to begin the 2024 season in Triple-A, with a career of .266/.332/—414 line. The Phillies’ catching depth chart is led by All-Star J.T. Realmuto, with Garrett Stubbs and Rafael Marchán on the 40-man roster as potential backups. Henry and Paul McIntosh, recently acquired in the Jesús Luzardo trade, will compete for opportunities behind them.
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