Phillies utility man Edmundo Sosa makes a case to be an everyday player.
Although spring training performances can deceive fans, they should not be discarded entirely. Edmundo Sosa has been fantastic for the Philadelphia Phillies so far.
Sosa showed flashes of his impressive offense after he was dealt to the Phillies at the 2022 trade deadline. In 25 contests, he recorded a .315 batting average and 10 extra-base hits. He was known as a defensive specialist with the St. Louis Cardinals, so his aptness with the bat was a pleasant surprise.
This spring, Sosa is tied for the team lead in home runs, slugging four out of the park in just 19 at-bats. Sosa has totaled a 1.820 OPS and driven in eight runs. We know what Sosa is capable of offensively after seeing what he did last September before getting injured.
The biggest issue regarding Sosa is not how well he plays, but how Rob Thomson will get him into the lineup. The Phillies already have their infield "set in stone" for the regular season. Yet, Sosa has seen time at both middle infield spots and center field so far in spring training.
Edmundo Sosa with that ST power 👀💥 pic.twitter.com/ZW1j2aUjmn
— NBC Sports Philadelphia (@NBCSPhilly) March 9, 2023
Sosa might not show these displays of power during the regular season, but he is elite at peppering the ball around the field. In a small sample size last year, he hit a double every 7.7 at-bats. Sosa could become a nightmare for pitchers if he maintained numbers like this.
His defensive impact is felt the most at shortstop. In more than 800 career innings at the position, Sosa has recorded 13 defensive runs saved. He is also an above-average second and third baseman. If he can pan out how to play the outfield, Sosa should become a mainstay in the lineup.
It will be difficult to fit all Phillies talents into just nine lineup spots. Still, Sosa's defensive versatility will make him a flexible utility option throughout the season.