Even after his slower start in 2026, the argument that Bryson Stott is one of baseball's elite second basemen is becoming more cemented with each swing or Gold Glove-caliber play he makes in the middle infield.
However, Stott has been noticeably seeing less time as an "everyday" player, with his struggles at the plate still looming, as well as Edmundo Sosa's clutch nature in big moments weighing heavily on the decision to start him on the bench more often than usual.
With the new coaching regime's arrival, Stott's role has absolutely been cut down to a platoon, with Sosa usually getting the nod to start against lefties. However, as most Phillies fans who have been around here for a while know, a platoon isn't necessarily the best way to get your struggling everyday guys to reverse their slump.
After Stott's two-run home run in the 9-1 series opener against the nomadic Athletics, which came not long after a phenomenal series in Miami, he's starting to find his stroke. He received an endorsement from his dear friend Bryce Harper after the Tuesday night win.
Bryce Harper on Bryson Stott: "He's an everyday guy. He always has been."
— Ty Daubert (@TyDaubert) May 6, 2026
Said he's glad to see Stott playing regularly (and quite well) of late and that he should be playing every day against lefties and righties since it's hard to get a rhythm when not playing each game.
Bryce Harper's recent Bryson Stott quote peels back the curtain on his thoughts on some of Rob Thomson's managerial deicisons
Hear that, Donnie Baseball? Don't let this get out of hand again. Stott's a starter.
Harper has a valid point, absolutely, and it is nice to see the colder two-thirds of the "daycare" trio get in step - specifically Stott, who was somewhat in need of a big season. However, there were several crucial moments when Sosa was the only bright spot in an otherwise dim offensive start to the season. While Stott has been heating up, there is no question that Sosa was the only one who could handle a pressure AB early in the campaign.
It shouldn't come as a surprise, though, that Harper is making a statement on Stott's playing time and encouraging Don Mattingly to ride the hot hand. Long before they were playing the right side of the infield together, Harper and Stott have been connected since their roots growing up in the Silver State.
The Harper and Stott families have been connected for years in their smaller Nevada town, with Stott's sister having been a cheerleader for Harper's mother. A nine-year-old Bryson Stott often got to watch from the stands, for years, as his brother played alongside one of the generation's most notable baseball talents, absorbing all the "ball knowledge" a young player could from two highly regarded mentors. Now, he's playing alongside Harper and learning every day alongside one of his best friends. It's no wonder that Harper doesn't want that to end, either.
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