The Evolution of Bryson Stott – Philadelphia Sports Nation

In 2019, the Phillies held the 14th pick in a loaded MLB Draft. Some of the top players pickedAdley Rutschman, Bobby Witt Jr., Andrew Vaughn, and Alex Manoahare currently viewed as a future face of their respective franchises. With their first selection, the Phillies opted to take SS Bryson Stott out of UNLV in hopes he, too, would become part of a nucleus that would bring World Series baseball back to South Philly. The shortstop was viewed as a safe picka prospect who grades out as average in most skill categories with the chance to develop multiple above average tools. He had quick hands and feet up the middle, could run well, and carried an advanced approach at the plate with elite bat-to-ball skills. He showcased all of these talents throughout his time in the minor leagues, the 2021 Arizona Fall League, and this past spring training, earning him a spot on the Phillies Opening Day Roster.

However, Stott didnt last on the major league roster very long. He was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley on April 25th only to be recalled on May 7 when Didi Gregorious was placed on the injured list due to a knee sprain. Over the course of April and May, Stott received inconsistent playing time while slashing an abysmal .123/.180/.151. Stotts swing was long and loopy, his timing was poor, and, alarmingly, appeared to be uncomfortable in the batters boxsomething that was very unusual for a player whos never been overmatched. The rigidness of Joe Girardi, the clubs manager at the time, did nothing to help the rookie who would find himself on the bench at the first sign of struggle. But, when Girardi was relieved of his managerial duties on June 3, a little bit of weight was lifted from top prospects shoulders.

Given a fresh start with a new skipper, the first-year shortstop could relax knowing that he would find his name in the lineup every day. There would be growing painsas there usually is with young athletesbut he would play through the failure and learn how to be better because of it. Any athlete will tell you that it is impossible to better themselves while cemented on a pine bench. For a young hitter especially, it is vital to continue getting game reps against difficult competition to learn how the best pitchers will try to get you out. Once that is understood and the hitter can either lay off a specific pitch or do damage with it, confidence can be built from within. This is what happened with Stott, who now knows he can compete at the highest level of baseball.

Since June 1, Stott is hitting .261/.322/.424 while playing a stellar shortstop and coming up with a few clutch hits, including this one from Tuesday night. His play since the beginning of June was enough for the Phillies front office to believe in him as the shortstop of the futureand right now. On August 4th, the Phillies released their Opening Day shortstop, Didi Gregorious, which gave Stott an additional boost in confidence. In his last 15 games, Stott has slashed .339/.383/.518.

The Vegas products scorching hot bat has been a result of cleaning up his loopy swing path with a shorter, more direct angle of attack towards the baseball. This has helped him adjust to how big league pitchers attempt to get him out. Earlier in the season, when Stotts swing dipped under the plane of the ball, he was vulnerable to high fastballs as he had the appearance of not being able to catch up to the pitch. However, with an approach focused on hard contact, his swing became shorter, reducing the loop and preventing his back shoulder from dipping too much prior to contact. Now, hes able to put those pitches in play while also staying on pitches low and in, where his natural swing path is prone to barreling the ball. But, the rookies two strike approach, which has become his all-the-time approach, may be the key to his hot streak.

Throughout his professional career, Stott has stood tall at the plate before moving into a toe-tap stride as the pitch is thrown. But now, the rookie doesnt stride at all. When the pitcher winds up, he simply rocks back and allows his hands to attack the baseball. Its a simple approachone that some of the best hitters in the game use when they have two strikes in any given at bat. Bryce Harper began using this during his MVP campaign last season and has continued it this year while Juan Soto uses a modified version of the approach where he spreads his legs out extremely wide and lifts up on his front toe before the pitch is thrown. Some may think, though, that hitters lose power when using this approach since they arent utilizing any sort of leg kick. However, this theory is a fallacy because a hitters leg kick, more than anything, is a timing mechanism. As long as a hitter uses their body correctlymeaning, their hips, legs, and hands move in unison towards the ball with the legs using the ground to drive to impactvery minimal, if any, power is lost. For a hitter like Stott, this approach works tremendously, and is a big reason why the Phillies have placed so much faith in him.

With the in-season adjustments the rookie has made, its evident Stott has all the makings to be penciled in as the Phillies shortstop for the next decade. At his peak, it wouldnt be surprising to see him become a five tool player that can do anything to help the team win. But right now, the rookie is just scratching the surface of his potential. Its no longer a matter of if the top prospect can play at the major league level, but a matter of how good he can be. And who knows, maybe he and his two paper cups will have a special moment in October.

Photo: Nathan Ray Seebeck/USA Today Sports

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The Evolution of Bryson Stott - Philadelphia Sports Nation