This Phillies top prospect is eager to earn big-league time

Bryson Stott looks forward to potentially winning a 2022 Phillies starting job.

Top-ranked Philadelphia Phillies hitting prospect Bryson Stott has one goal in mind heading into spring training in a few months: to win a job on the big-league roster heading into the 2022 season.

"“[The 2021 season] is over. I could look back and say I had a good year, but 2022 is obviously coming,” Stott said on a recent Pine Tar for Breakfast Podcast with Kevin Frandsen.“I want to be ready to go into spring training with the mindset that I will win one of those jobs.”"

The 2019 first-round pick out of the University of Nevada had a stellar 2021 season in the Phillies system. Since the minor leagues did not have a season in 2020, this was only his first full professional season, but Stott certainly made the most of it. In 112 games combed across the High-A, Double-A, and Triple-A levels, Stott slashed .299/.390/.486 with 26 doubles, 16 home runs, and 49 RBI.

After being named the 2021 Paul Owens Award winner — given to the top player in the Phillies minor-leagues — Stott went on to shine even more in the recent Arizona Fall League (AFL). Playing 26 games, the 24-year-old slashed .318/.445/.489. His 24 walks and 31 RBI led the league; impressively, Stott walked 10 more times than he struck out (14) and reached base at least once in all 26 games.

Stott adds that his AFL Peoria Javelinas teammates played a notable role in his success: “We didn’t have an easy out in the lineup. I felt every time I was hitting, there was someone on base.

Stott has less than three months before he will report to Clearwater. Given his hopes to earn a major-league job, the shortstop is “excited” and “ready to go.”

“I want to get there as fast as I can and help the Phillies and the city win,” Stott told Frandsen, before adding:

"“I’m going to do everything I can to play shortstop in the major leagues. I’ll also take grounders at third and second. I just want to get there and do whatever it takes to help the team win, but the majority of my stuff will be at shortstop.”"

Stott credits his teammates and coaches for making things easy and allowing him to just go out and play the game he loves. He recognizes to never take things for granted, either, “because who knows what could happen.”

While being named a 2022 Phillies starter is not a given for the prospect, Stott plans on earning his spot and proving to those in charge that he is ready and able to do so.

As such, one of Stott’s best friends and mentors, the recently named 2021 National League MVP Bryce Harper, offers him this advice: just have fun, compete and play your game.