Manager Rob Thomson may be open to adjusting the Philadelphia Phillies lineup. Kyle Schwarber has had the leadoff spot since coming to Philadelphia, but his skill set as the club's best home run and RBI threat would be better utilized lower in the batting order.
Schwarber led the majors with 15 leadoff home runs last year, setting a record for the most leadoff home runs in the regular season. If Schwarber hits lower in the order, such as in the third spot, the outfielder would have the opportunity to drive in more runs with a base hit or home run as opposed to only himself during the first inning.
There have been numerous suggestions for how Thomson can tinker with the top of the Phillies' batting order. Former Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. offered an idea on how to alter the top of the batting order during a segment of The Morning Show with Joe DeCamara and Jon Ritchie on SportsRadio 94 WIP.
Ruben Amaro Jr. suggests ideas for making changes to the Phillies' lineup
The Phillies color commentator's reasoning for the lineup change is to find a way to have better protection for Bryce Harper. Amaro proposed having Bryson Stott lead off. The other change was to move Schwarber down to the fourth spot in the lineup.
Amaro commented on why the change at the top of the batting order could be made.
"I feel that Bryson Stott can be that guy," Amaro said. "I like him in the one hole. I like Trea Turner in two, and I like Bryce Harper in three, and if you want to go back-to-back with Schwarber and not move [Nick] Castellanos into the fourth spot because you want to have Schwarber get as many at-bats and reps as possible, then go ahead and do that. But I feel like that to me feels like the most potent lineup."
If Thomson moves Stott up in the batting order, would the second baseman be better utilized hitting first or second? If he remains in the middle of the lineup, then Turner, Harper, and Schwarber could hit one-two-three.
Stott may get looks in spring training at the top of the lineup. His strengths that work in his favor in hitting at the top of the lineup are his plate discipline and speed. The infielder led the Phillies in 2023 and 2024 with 31 and 32 stolen bases, respectively. Unless there are injuries to key left-handed hitters such as Schwarber or Harper, the second baseman looks to be better suited to hit fifth or sixth during the season.
"One of the issues I think that [the Phillies have] had is that they don't feel like Harper's protected enough," Amaro added. "If Trea's on second base, they may not pitch to Harper, and that's one of the biggest issues is the protection of Harper, and I think that's why you're going to have Schwarber hitting behind him."
Bryson Stott isn't the Phillies' first choice to hit in the leadoff spot
Turner hit leadoff earlier in his career. The best way to protect Harper is to have the first baseman and Schwarber hit back-to-back. The designated hitter/left fielder led the team with 47 home runs in 2023 and 38 homers last year. He finished second with 104 RBI two years ago and led the club with the same total of RBI last season.
The Phillies manager would then decide whether Castellanos or Alec Bohm would follow him in the fourth spot. At the start of the year, the right fielder may have the upper hand over the third baseman in hitting behind Schwarber.
Thomson appears hesitant about moving Stott to the top of the order based on his comments on The Phillies Show podcast.
"The thing is that we're so left-handed, and you want Harper and you want Schwarber getting as many at-bats as you can," Thomson said. "Now you put Stott in the leadoff spot now you're really left-handed at the top, and it might create a problem, even if you're facing a right-hander, everybody's got three lefties in the 'pen it seems, and they'll just start matching up on you."
To Thomson's point, the top of the order would have too many left-handed hitters if Stott bats leadoff with Harper and Schwarber succeeding him. Bohm or Castellanos don't appear likely to hit ahead of the first baseman and DH and Turner isn't a candidate to hit any lower than second.
If Thomson changes the lineup to protect Harper, the order should be Turner-Harper-Schwarber-Castellanos. Stott does bring an ability to get on base, but the lineup will have too many left-handed hitters at the top.