Bryson Stott’s Big Season Puts Him On Phillies’ 2022 Radar

Both offensively and defensively, shortstop was a problem for the Phillies in 2021.

Veteran Didi Gregorius is expected to get a chance to redeem himself in 2022, but Bryson Stott should make sure his phone is charged in case there’s a quick call.

“I’ve told him, ‘You should come to spring training with the mindset of trying to win a spot with the big league club,’ ‘’ Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said.

Stott has played just 10 games and gotten 41 plate appearances above Double-A.

“I’ve never been averse to jumping a guy from Double A to the big leagues,” Dombrowski said. “I’ve done it many times and had good success. He’s had some time (at Triple-A) and played well in the Arizona Fall League, so I am not averse.”

Stott, a 24-year-old Nevada-Las Vegas product, was the Phillies’ top pick at No. 14 overall in 2019. He played at three levels in 2021, hitting .299/.390/.486 with 26 doubles and 16 home runs in 112 games.

He was named an AFL all-star after slashing .318/.445/.489 in 26 games for Peoria. He reached base in every game and hit two homers. He walked 24 times and struck out just 14.

Dombrowski spent a few days watching Stott in Arizona and liked what he saw and heard.

“He’s a good-looking kid, a really good player,” Dombrowski said. “I had people in the AFL tell me he’s one of the best players there. He loves to play the game. He’s a baseball rat. He knows how to play the game. 

“He recognizes pitches very well out of the hand. Not only does he swing a nice bat, but he’ll get walks . . . (and) he doesn’t strike out that often. He’s the type of guy who I think has a chance to be a winning big league player.”

Stott play second and third base, but shortstop remains his—and the Phillies’—immediate focus.