Bryson Stott didn’t make a big deal out of it, and that might be the most Bryson Stott part of all.
With the Phillies shifting pieces around the diamond for trade deadline addition Luis Arraez, Stott found himself at third base in Tuesday’s 6-4 win over the visiting Miami Marlins. The former starting second baseman looked right at home there, turning in multiple diving stops in the ninth inning, including a particularly tough play to help finish off the night.
Afterward, his answer matched the way he played.
“Nothing crazy,” the No. 14 pick in the 2019 MLB Draft told Phillies broadcasters Tom McCarthy and John Kruk when asked about changing positions, per Cory Nidoh of Philly Sports Network and MetroPhilly. “I know Bohmer {Alec Bohm} has played there, {Bryce Harper has been} in right.
I have a few games at third. Just go out there and catch the ball and throw to first.
I don't really care how it looks, as long as I catch it and throw it to first.”
That’s the Phillies’ defensive reality right now: maybe not always pretty, maybe not always kind to the numbers, but enough to keep the roof from caving in. The club did commit two errors against Miami, so it wasn’t a clean night by any stretch. Still, Citizens Bank Park got a show.
Alec Bohm delivered one of the best plays of the game with a fantastic unassisted double play at first in the seventh inning, and he also helped at the plate with two RBIs. Stott matched him with two RBIs of his own, including a two-run, go-ahead single up the middle in the middle of Philadelphia’s four-run sixth inning.
The contact keeps coming for Stott, too. He has reached base safely in 19 straight games, and he’s doing it while providing real value on defense without ever looking rattled.
Bryson Stott on changing positions on postgame with Tom McCarthy and John Kruk: "Nothing crazy. I know Bohmer has played there, Bryce as in right. I have a few games at third. Just go out there and catch the ball and throw to first. I don't really care how it looks, as long as…
— Cory Nidoh (@Cory_Nidoh) August 19, 2026
For the season, Stott is hitting .266 with nine home runs, 59 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, a .344 on-base percentage, .418 slugging percentage and .762 OPS. Entering this divisional game, he also had three defensive runs saved and two outs above average in 120 innings at third, according to FanGraphs.
The Phillies are packed with familiar names and plenty of decorated talent, but No. 5 may end up being the one who quietly tilts things in 2026.
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