The Phillies opened their three-game set in Arizona with a 2-1 win over the Diamondbacks on Monday night, and Bryson Stott provided the loudest moment of the evening by absolutely launching his 10th homer of the season.
The blast wasn’t just a home run. It was a monster.
The ball traveled 464 feet with an exit velo of 109.9, making it the longest ball Stott has ever hit in his career. That topped his previous best of 441 feet, which came against the Marlins last year.
Ben Davis summed it up perfectly on the call: “That is without a doubt the farthest ball I’ve ever seen Bryson Stott hit.”
Even without the numbers, it was obvious this one was different. Stott’s swing looked effortless, the kind of clean, easy cut that still sends the baseball into another zip code. He stayed extended through contact and held the bat out with one arm as he watched it fly, like he’d just taken a casual swing in a backyard game.
The sound told the whole story, too. It had that deep, sharp crack that lets you know the ball was absolutely smoked before anyone even sees where it’s going.
The win kept Philadelphia rolling. The Phillies have now won five straight and eight of their last 10, and they went 21-7 in August, the best record in MLB during the month. That pushed them to 78-60 overall, and they now sit four games behind the Braves in the division.
In Other News...
Phillies Just Gave Fans Another Reason To Question September Plans
The Phillies opened September with a familiar kind of roster shuffle, activating catcher Rafael Marchan from the 10-day injured list after his rehab assignment and bringing up right-hander Grant Holman from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The move expands Philadelphia to 28 players, a reminder that this time of year is less about one tidy lineup and more about sorting out depth, health, and whatever roles still need filling as the final stretch begins.
Holmans call-up is the more intriguing piece for anyone watching the bullpen and bench picture, since he has not appeared in a major league game this season and arrives with a fresh opportunity to make an impression. The timing also stands out because the Phillies had already dealt outfielder Tommy Pham to the Chicago White Sox before the roster expanded, leaving the club with a little more room to experiment, even if the shape of September is still only starting to come into view. [Read more 🡒]
Phillies Add Stretch Run Depth As Two Pressure Points Grow
September roster expansion gave the Phillies a little more breathing room behind the scenes, with catcher Rafael Marchan and reliever Grant Holman both joining the major league club. Marchan was reinstated from the injured list after a rehab assignment, while Holman was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley, giving Philadelphia an extra option at two spots that tend to get squeezed once the calendar turns to the seasons final month.
For a team trying to manage the stretch run, the moves matter as much for coverage as for headline value. A third catcher can help keep the battery stable if the workload piles up, and another bullpen arm gives the Phillies a bit more flexibility as they try to navigate the final weeks with fewer shortcuts and less room for error. [Read more 🡒]
Ketel Martes Return Just Raised The Stakes For The Phillies
Ketel Marte was back in the Diamondbacks lineup Tuesday night, and his return gave the Phillies another reminder that Arizona can still change the shape of a series quickly. After completing the minimum stay on the injured list with left knee inflammation, Marte came off as the designated hitter in the opener against Philadelphia, with Ildemaro Vargas holding down second base so Marte could focus strictly on the bat.
For a Phillies club trying to keep control of a meaningful September matchup, the timing mattered. Marte had been out since Aug. 20, but even with the missed time he still arrived with a dangerous line at the plate, hitting .249 with 21 home runs and 67 RBIs. His presence back in the middle of Arizonas order raises the level of difficulty for a Philadelphia pitching staff that already knew this series would not come easy. [Read more 🡒]