Expectations for Philadelphia Phillies' second baseman Bryson Stott were fairly high entering the 2024 season. He put together a solid 2023 campaign sporting a 4.3 bWAR with a .280 batting average while hitting 15 home runs, driving in 62 runs and swiping 31 bases. While he may not have been considered one of the potent lineup's big hitters, his role undoubtedly expanded.
During the first month of the 2024 season, Stott's performance fell short of expectations. The club's winning ways diminished the impact that his slump and other scuffling hitters in the lineup, such as Nick Castellanos, had on the team's success.
Through March and April, the Phillies' second baseman hit just .225 and only got on base at a .311 clip. His .682 OPS was lower than he and many others would have liked to see. Things began to change when the calendar flipped to May.
How Phillies' Bryson Stott turned his season around
Through nine games in the month of May, Stott's numbers have drastically improved. The 2019 first-round pick has slashed .438/.556/.688. He has matched his stolen base total of five from his first 28 games of the season during that span. His 12 RBI and five extra-base hits are just shy of his first-month totals in those categories.
Stott's overall numbers for the season look much better due to his current hot streak. He has raised his batting average to .281 and his OPS to .840.
Bill Ladson of MLB.com wrote about the club's comeback win in New York on Monday night and noted that Phillies manager Rob Thomson offered some insight into what he believes has turned the tides for his middle infielder.
“He is really swinging the bat like he can. He got off to a slow start, but he's turned it on now," Thomson said, per Ladson. "He's being a little more aggressive in the zone and is starting to get the head out and starting to pull some balls. , he was getting to the point where he was serving balls to left field. Now he is starting to drive balls, and that's good to see.”
Stott's heroics have come through twice in recent Phillies wins. On Saturday, Stott knocked in four runs — three of which came on a bases-clearing triple — leading to an 8-3 victory in Miami.
Go ahead and break it open, Bryson 👌 pic.twitter.com/7709tWComb
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) May 11, 2024
On Monday night, the 26-year-old homered in the top of the ninth inning off of New York Mets closer Edwin Diaz to bring the Phillies to within one run. He later knocked in the winning run on a sacrifice fly in the 10th.
The Las Vegas native used his experience from last season to remain calm during his early season slump.
“It’s a long year. … knowing that I had plate appearances last year and wasn’t going to kill me," Stott explained, per Ladson. "So, I keep taking good at-bats. I think I have a pretty good feel for the strike zone. Take the walks when they're there. I’m walking a lot more than I probably did around this time last year, I imagine.”
Fact-checking Stott's assertion shows that he is correct. In his first 148 plate appearances in 2024, he has walked 22 times. In all of March, April, and May in 2023, he saw just 12 free passes in 237 plate appearances.
Stott has a great eye at the plate and can really make pitchers work. He has been grinding out at-bats and is now starting to see results. His contributions to the offense are crucial, especially with the absence of Trea Turner from the lineup. He will look to make an offensive impact as the season progresses.