Philadelphia Phillies infielder Bryson Stott has made a noteworthy start in spring training, emphasizing his improvement against left-handed pitching, a key area for securing a regular spot at second base this season. With spring training games underway, Stott is showing promise as the Phillies prepare for Opening Day, aiming to impress amid a planned platoon setup at second base.
Manager Rob Thomson intends to use a platoon system at second base featuring Stott and Edmundo Sosa, with the challenge for Stott being greater consistency against left-handed pitchers. However, early results from the preseason suggest Stott may be making strides to address this vulnerability.
Spring Training Performance Reflects Promising Adjustments
In just 13 plate appearances during spring training, Bryson Stott has compiled five hits, including a double and two home runs, alongside five walks and only one strikeout, resulting in an impressive .625 batting average and a 2.269 on-base plus slugging (OPS). Notably, Stott’s recent success has come against left-handed pitchers, a previous weakness.
He demonstrated this improvement by hitting an opposite-field home run off Washington Nationals lefty Jake Eder and following it with an RBI double against Miami Marlins left-hander Robbie Snelling. These performances highlight encouraging progress early in the preseason schedule.
Context on Stott’s Past Struggles Against Lefties and Recent Changes
Last season, Bryson Stott struggled against left-handed pitching, managing only five extra-base hits in 111 at-bats versus southpaws while hitting .225 with a .575 OPS—a mark ranking near the bottom among left-handed hitters with at least 120 plate appearances. These numbers emphasize why improving in this area is crucial for Stott’s role with the Phillies.
That is Bryson Stott’s second consecutive day with an extra-base hit against a lefty. This time against Robby Snelling, MLB’s No. 5 left-handed pitching prospect. He had just five XBH vs. LHP all of last season (.575 OPS).— Cole Weintraub
During the second half of last season, Stott began adjusting his batting stance by lowering his hands, allowing his swing to flow more naturally. Phillies hitting coach Kevin Long explained how this change improved Stott’s ability to generate bat speed and make consistent contact.
“If I lose energy this way,”
Long said, motioning to the right,
“I’m not hitting into my front side. I kill my bat speed doing that. We had to get him going toward the baseball. It changed his contact point.”
Following these adjustments, Stott posted a .310 batting average and an .880 OPS over the final 50 games of the 2025 season, ranking 12th among qualifiers, signaling that the tweak had a significant positive impact.
Adopting a Natural Approach at the Plate
Stott’s current approach focuses on allowing the pitch location to dictate his swing’s outcome rather than forcing directions. He explained that attempting to steer the ball during at-bats often leads to trouble, so he now lets the ball guide the bat’s path.
“If you just take your swing and it’s an outside pitch, it’s going to go to left, instead of trying to guide it to left,”
Stott said.
“For example, I’ll get an inside heater and I’m like, ‘Well, I want to hit the ball to left this at-bat,’ and then I try to finagle the barrel around and that’s when I get myself in trouble. The second half was more of just letting the ball dictate where it’s going to go rather than me trying to dictate where it’s going to go.”
Competition with Edmundo Sosa for Starting Role
Although Stott aims to play every inning of the full 162-game schedule, his competition at second base comes from right-handed batter Edmundo Sosa, who has outperformed Stott against left-handed pitching. Sosa produced a .318/.362/.533 slash line with an .895 OPS, six home runs, and 16 RBIs in 107 at-bats versus lefties in 2025, putting pressure on Stott to continue improving.
Manager Rob Thomson has acknowledged Sosa’s superior production against southpaws, noting it makes it challenging not to give Sosa at-bats in those matchups despite Stott’s progress.
Stott’s Upside and What Lies Ahead
Though spring training sample sizes are small, Bryson Stott’s early performance against left-handed pitchers suggests he may have turned a corner from last season’s struggles. If he maintains his revised batting stance and natural hitting approach throughout the regular season, Stott could emerge as a dependable presence in the Phillies lineup.
This advancement might help him secure the everyday second base job over the course of the season, potentially reshaping the Phillies’ infield dynamic and providing the team with increased offensive flexibility against varied pitching matchups.
Stotty goes oppo! pic.twitter.com/yjut4k0MeQ
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) February 26, 2026
That is Bryson Stott’s second consecutive day with an extra-base hit against a lefty. This time against Robby Snelling, MLB’s No. 5 left-handed pitching prospect.
He had just five XBH vs. LHP all of last season (.575 OPS).
— Cole Weintraub (@WeintraubCole) February 27, 2026
