3 Phillies players who should be on a short leash this season
By Tim Boyle
2) Phillies news: Bryson Stott is on a short leash
Starting at second base for the Phillies this season, Bryson Stott is coming off a successful rookie year in Philadelphia. He batted .234/.295/.358 for the ball club while playing several infield positions. The addition of Trea Turner and loss of Jean Segura moves him to a new position where he should start to get comfortable. After all, Turner is going to be here for a while.
The move should only benefit Stott more defensively while allowing him to improve at the plate as well. He has a bright future. In 2023, the Phillies shouldn’t be afraid of limiting his playing time if he struggles.
Last year’s team didn’t have too many options behind Stott, particularly when certain teammates were on the IL. The ball club will have Edmundo Sosa returning as one second base option. Josh Harrison, who has started regularly in the last two seasons, is another guy who could take some starts away from Stott.
The Phillies could even plan to have Harrison start at second base quite often whenever they face a left-handed pitcher. This will depend largely on whether or not Stott can hit southpaws regularly.
The short leash on Stott shouldn’t immediately result in a demotion. Losing a couple of starts would be the first step if he doesn’t perform well enough.