There’s a player in the Philadelphia Phillies’ lineup who leads the team with a .294 batting average, 150 hits and 27 stolen bases.
Bryce Harper? The obvious first choice, but it’s not him.
Trea Turner and Nick Castellanos are each experiencing resurgent seasons, but they don’t meet the criteria either.
Kyle Schwarber? Please.
No, the Phillie in question is 25-year-old second baseman Bryson Stott, the former first-round draft pick playing in his second major-league season.
Last year, Stott’s batting average was just .234, and his on-base percentage didn’t even clear .300 (.295). This season, with better discipline at the plate, he’s bumped his numbers up to a .294 average and .338 OBP. Over 131 games this year, he has 50 more hits, 10 more doubles and 15 more stolen bases than he tallied in 127 games last season.
Stott started the 2023 campaign on a tear, batting .422 with 19 hits over his first 11 games. He was rewarded by becoming the Phillies’ leadoff hitter, temporarily replacing the struggling Kyle Schwarber. The arrangement didn’t quite work out for either player, as Stott’s average dipped to .284 by June 1. In his 77 games since retaking his spot in the middle of the lineup, Stott is batting .301 with 86 hits.
Given these numbers, some may wonder why Phillies manager Rob Thomson has Stott batting fifth in most games, and as low as seventh last Sunday and Monday. It may be due to the fact that he doesn’t draw many walks. Stott’s 33 bases on balls are tied for sixth on the team. For comparison, center fielder Brandon Marsh has walked 50 times this season. It’s one of the only offensive categories in which he’s better than Stott, and as a result, Marsh’s on-base percentage is .383. If Stott can further tweak his approach at the plate to boost his OBP, his upside is even greater.
Stott and 26-year-old third baseman Alec Bohm are often referred to as the Phillies’ “day care” compared to the veterans on the team. It’s an endearing nickname, but one that may not last for long. Harper, Turner and Schwarber are all 30 years old. Castellanos is 31 and catcher J.T. Realmuto is 32. It’s possible that their numbers could tail off while Stott and Bohm are still in their 20s. Graduation day could be coming soon for day care.
