Sep 9, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies catcher Garrett Stubbs (21) fields a ball Tampa Bay Rays at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
ALLENTOWN - Garrett Stubbs walked out of the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs clubhouse and down the ramp into the home dugout.
He turned left and saw something he hasn't seen in about seven months - a throng of reporters and cameras waiting to talk to him.
Always glib and personable, Stubbs took his seat on the dugout bench, and as the reporters huddled closer around him, a big smile creeped across his face.
"I'll start it off," he said. "I appreciate everyone coming to watch me play tonight, so thank you for being here."
It got a good laugh. But Stubbs, wasn't done.
Stubby's thoughts on Andrew Painter's debut tonight#ironpigs #ironpigsbaseball #phillies #baseball pic.twitter.com/uAkiKhM4U8
The first question was, of course, about Andrew Painter, the Phillies top prospect who was slated to make his Triple-A debut a few hours later on Thursday. And Stubbs response was again, on point.
"Who?"
He was in his element.
Following his playful responses, Stubbs then got into a lengthy discussion on all things Phillies prospects, but he also said he's in constant communication with both players and coaches on the big club.
"Every day," he said.
He said he texted Taijuan Walker after striking out seven batters in three innings of his first relief appearance of the season in Wednesday's 7-0 Phillies win.
Garrett Stubbs said he texted Taijuan Walker immediately after his impressive bullpen debut.
Said to Walker, “That was sick!” #Phillies pic.twitter.com/g7DTR5PCWg
"Punching seven," Stubbs said. "That was sick."
He then went on to rave about Walker accepting a different role than what he may want or what he was used to, and being a good soldier and still finding ways to help the team.
It wasn't hard for Stubbs to say that, because he's been doing it every day.
Sure, Stubbs would rather be with the Phillies right now. But, because of the business of baseball, he finds himself working with young players who are a step away from The Show. And he's embracing the role.
"It's been a lot of fun, but mostly because of the guys we have," Stubbs said. "I've had some really incredible experiences in the Big Leagues that I get to bring here and (provide) advice, or teach, or whatever - just instill a little bit of wisdom.
"It's kind of weird being an older guy. I don't feel old, but the reception from each one of these pitchers is just a testament to their character. I can say all the things I want and try to instill all the wisdom I want, but if it's not received well, then what's the point?"
The point is, the Phillies know they are fortunate to have Stubbs be a team guy who wants to help their prospects succeed.
Stubbs still talks to Phillies pitching coach Caleb Cotham regularly.
"I talk to him about the pitching staff and our game-planning stuff," Stubbs said. "It's been nice being able to communicate with him about the different pitchers and whatnot."
There's no question Stubbs has had an impact on the IronPigs fast start. Lehigh Valley has solid team ERA of 3.92.
"His energy, his leadership, his mound presence when he takes a visit, all of that stuff plays into his effect," said IronPigs manager Anthony Contreras. "We see it day-in and day-out behind the scenes - how he can impact a clubhouse. ... He's a constant kind of extension of us as a coaching staff."
And that's something he might want to think about.
In the past, he's talked about when his career is over, going into broadcasting, but now, maybe being such a big part of what the Phillies are doing with their young pitchers this season, maybe there's something in the future for him in a coaching or player development role.
Stubbs, who is now 32, wasn't quite ready to take that bait.
"I've learned that I'm older," he said. "I'm definitely not old in real life, but in baseball years I'm on the older side.
"It's a good question. I'll probably sit on that one and think about it on my own time."
It's wise for Stubbs to not go down that path conversationally yet. After all, he's playing regularly and he's putting up good numbers offensively for the IronPigs.
He's slashing .301/.314/.425 for an OPS of .839. And while the Phillies are very aware of his production, there is also a correlation to having Stubbs catch some guys the Phillies really want to see develop further.
Of course, he was going to catch Painter, that was a no-brainer. But, even more noticeable is the renaissance Mick Abel has had so far this season.
In seven starts, Abel is 4-2 with a 2.75 ERA and a 1.297 WHIP. He has struck out 42 batters in 39 innings and seems like a more confident pitcher and much more like the top prospect he was expected to be when the Phillies drafted him in the first round of the 2020 draft.
As good a two-batter sequence as we’ve seen from Mick Abel in a long time pic.twitter.com/EMYPc6JZZy
"It's awesome," Abel said of having Stubbs catch him. "Whether it's preparation or, you know, how he goes about his business during the game, I'm just watching him. It's really fun and I'm taking my fair share (of wisdom) from him."
A few relievers have also seen positive improvement this season with the IronPigs. And while it's hard to measure if that's just the natural course of development or if having a major league catcher working with them regularly, the Phillies know the latter certainly doesn't hurt - especially with a guy so bought into the organizational philosophy as Stubbs.
What his future holds, remains uncertain. If both J.T. Realmuto and Rafael Marchán stay healthy, Stubbs probably isn't back in the Phillies clubhouse until September.
He and his wife got a house in the Allentown area. They like it here. There's room for their two dogs to run around in the yard. And they are expecting their first child.
Stubbs said they will keep that house for the season regardless of what happens.
But for now, he's just going to keep helping young Phillies players take the steps they need to get to the next level, and it's almost certain he and Cotham are going to talk, at length, about Painter after Thursday's start.
And when he does, he'll still be the same guy he's always been. Nothing about Stubbs has changed, and he hopes that's the biggest takeaway young players get from him as a veteran in his 30s grinding in Triple-A.
"Part of it is learning to be a competitor but also being a good guy too," Stubbs said. "Because I've seen a lot of really good players not stick around in this league or the Big Leagues because of intangibles or the competition side of things.
"They might have a really good slider or a really good fastball, but then the competitor piece is missing. So, if there's something they've learned from me ... (I hope) it's the competitor piece or the work ethic piece, or things like that."
