PHILADELPHIA – “We need someone to put the ball in play.” – Rob Thomson prior to the Phillies-Marlins game on 8/13.
Bryson Stott hit .280 across 151 games in 2023. He was a finalist for the Gold Glove Award at second base, and his grand slam against the Miami Marlins in the NL Wild Card series was a moment for the ages. It appeared that the former first-round pick was well on his way to becoming a great player.
In 2024, things haven’t quite panned out for Bryson. Hitting just .232 heading into Wednesday’s game with the Marlins, Stott has been a slightly below-average hit according to advanced metrics. While he has walked more this season than in all of last season, his numbers in categories have taken drastic dips. His batting average, hits, home runs, and other statistics are on pace to finish worse than his 2023 mark.
For a Phillies club that is trying to win the World Series, they were expecting to see growth out of their third-year second baseman.
A Manager’s Faith
Heading into their series with the Marlins, Bryson Stott was given the chance to prove he could stick it in the fifth spot of the lineup. Rob Thomson was looking for someone to protect Alec Bohm in the order and put the ball in play. Rob wanted someone who could drive in runs and felt like his approach would pay off with runners in scoring position.
The Marlins are a club that Bryson has performed well against. As mentioned, his grand slam in the 2023 NL Wild Card series is a moment that has played over and over on electronic devices across the Delaware Valley.
Despite some cold streaks lately, the top four hitters of the Phillies’ lineup are set in stone. Schwarber, Turner, Harper, and Bohm will be the 1-4 order for the club, barring something unforeseen. Rob Thomson is looking for the rest of his order and needs players to step up. Bryson Stott could be the lynchpin that helps facilitate the middle of the Phillies’ lineup.
If Stott can perform in this spot, you can filter out the rest of the batting order with Castellanos, Realmuto, Marsh, and Rojas/Hays. This allows the Phillies and Rob Thomson to stabilize a batting order that has changed quite drastically at points across the 2024 season. While injury has been a pivotal reason behind that, you can’t argue that inconsistency at the plate has forced Thomson’s hand.
Can Stott turn it around?
On Tuesday night, Bryson went 0/4. While they did not result in base hits, Stott drove two balls deep to the outfield. Both balls exceeded 99 mph off the bat and while it might not help his average, it does show he is starting to see the ball much better. His exit velocity has been down in 2024, so this could be a sign of good things to come.
I asked Rob Thomson his thoughts on Stott’s at-bats during Tuesday’s game:
“He’s back to making contact and I thought his at-bats were good tonight…” – Rob Thomson 8/13 Postgame
One night is not going to determine the fate of the Phillies’ lineup but Bryson will need to show he can put consistent at-bats together if he is going to remain in the lineup. We have seen Rob Thomson use Edmundo Sosa at second base when their opponents start a left-handed pitcher. If Stott can continue to hit well, he would likely win back some of those at-bats to keep himself in the lineup.
Professional baseball is a result-driven business and a hot bat can outshine other issues for a ballplayer. If the Phillies can start to rebuild their lineup, Bryson Stott could be a piece of that puzzle. The club needs to start stacking wins as they try and win their first division title since 2011. The Phillies’ second baseman can shake out of a bad start to 2024 with a strong finish, but he will have to get started now, as the season is reaching its’ end.
Photo Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
