Edmundo Sosa was tasked with filling some big shoes when Philadelphia Phillies star shortstop Trea Turner went down with a hamstring strain on May 3. Turner was off to a hot start with a .343 batting average through 33 games prior to his injury.
In Turner’s absence, Sosa has started the majority of games at shortstop with fellow middle infielder Bryson Stott also getting some time at the position. The Phillies haven’t missed a beat without the $300 million shortstop. The team holds an 19-6 record in games that Sosa has appeared in since May 4. In comparison, the Phillies were 22-11 before losing Turner.
Phillies might make a drastic move to keep Edmundo Sosa’s bat in the lineup
With Turner expected to return in the near future, the Phillies are keeping their options open when it comes to what to do with Sosa.
Through 113 plate appearances this season, Sosa is slashing .294/.357/.539. He’s tied for the National League lead in triples with four, and he’s eighth among NL shortstops with 1.5 fWAR.
If you look at the Phillies, you’re not going to find many glaring holes in the roster. However, one area that could use some improvement is outfield depth. Behind Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas and Nick Castellanos, the Phillies' main outfielder is Christian Pache.
The Phillies could look to Sosa as an extra outfield option if he keeps up his production at the plate to keep his bat in the lineup. If you recall, Sosa played some center field during spring training in 2023.
According to Destiny Lugardo of Phillies Nation, manager Rob Thomson is open to the idea of Sosa playing in the outfield.
“Absolutely,” Thomson said when asked about Sosa possibly playing outfield, per Lugardo. “Absolutely. If he keeps hitting like this, it’s going to be tough to take him out of the lineup. Gotta find a spot for him someplace.”
Turner was placed on the 10-day IL on May 4 with the expectation of missing six weeks. He was reportedly making great progress until a minor setback halted his rehab after experiencing soreness in his leg while the club was out west.
The Phillies are being cautious with their high-paid shortstop as he progresses through his recovery, so until his return, expect Sosa to continue to be the everyday shortstop. Deciding what to do with him once Turner comes back is a good problem to have.