Philadelphia signs minor league catcher

The Philadelphia Phillies made a move to bolster his catching options on Friday, agreeing to a minor league contract with veteran catcher Mark Kolozsvary, which includes an invitation to spring training. The 30-year-old catcher, who has appeared in 11 major league games, adds experience to a position that currently lacks depth behind free agent catcher JT Realmut.

A seventh-round pick of the Cincinnati Reds in the 2017 MLB Draft, Kolosvari made his major league debut with Cincinnati in 2022. During the 2022 season, he played in 10 games, posting a .200 batting average with one home run and three RBI in 21 appearances. He had his first major league hit and an RBI double off then-San Diego Padres starter Nick Martinez and hit his first career home run against the then-St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Junior Fernandez.

After the 2022 season, the Baltimore Orioles claimed Kolozvary out, and he only made one major league appearance in June 2023 as a late-game defensive replacement. During the 2023 season, Kolosvari spent most of his time in Triple-A with the Norfolk Tides, hitting .162/.250/.265 with two home runs and seven RBIs in 20 games, before opting for free agency on June 16 over an outright assignment.

Just four days later, Kolozsvary signed a minor league contract with the Minnesota Twins and appeared in six games for Triple-A St. He opted for free agency after the season.

On December 22, 2023, the Boston Red Sox added Kolozvari to their organization on a minor league contract. In 2024 and 2025 with the Boston Allies, Kolozsvary appeared primarily at Double-A Portland and Triple-A Worcester, combining for a .253/.336/.495 line with five home runs and 17 RBIs in 30 games before being hit for the entire season and placed on the 205-season injured reserve list in June.

Koloshvari’s calling card has been his defense, with his reputation built on reliability behind the plate rather than offense. Philadelphia’s current catching situation makes this signing particularly strategic. With Realmuto still on the free agent market and Rafael Marchan and Garrett Stubbs out of the minor leagues, the Phillies get a catcher with two options remaining. Kolosvari’s presence gives Philadelphia flexibility for both Triple-A depth and potential competition for a backup role at the major league level. While Marchan and Stubbs are under guaranteed contracts through the 2026 season, neither is expensive, leaving room for Kolosvari to eventually take over a starring role if circumstances change.

Despite the fact that Kolosvari is unlikely to be a major league regular next season, his defensive skills and professional experience make him a valuable insurance policy for the Phillies. He will likely see most of his action at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, preparing pitchers and providing depth during spring training.