Young Phils duo off to a hot start in 2023

SOUTH PHILADELPHIA - In 2020, Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott headlined the Phillies top-30 prospect list coming in 1st and 3rd places respectively. In 2023, they now headline a Phillies lineup that seems poised to be one of the best in Baseball for years to come.

After last night’s 15-3 shellacking of the Miami Marlins, during which Bryson Stott batted leadoff for the first time in his career, a move that was heavily criticized by local media and fans alike. Manager Rob Thomson had this to say about his young second baseman.

“Getting him in there (at leadoff) really lengthens the lineup, gives us two guys who can get on base and swipe a bag or two up at the top”. Thomson added, “We’ll see if we want to put him back in there (leadoff), we’ll discuss it with them and make a decision tomorrow”.

Stott went 2-6 with a run in last night’s win, dropping his average to a respectable .415 which still leads the club. The Vegas product also leads the team in OBP, and Hits, while coming in second in OPS with a .917 mark behind his infield buddy Alec Bohm.

Bohm has debatably been the Phils best power hitter in the early going, leading the team with a .649 SLG and three home runs, the latest of which he crushed 440ft to left-center field barely clearing the second deck.

The former third overall pick back in 2018 reportedly put on 10-15lbs of muscle in the offseason and “messed around with his mechanics”. It has certainly shown, at least early on as the Phils have already begun flirting with the idea of moving Bohm further into the heart of the lineup as his power progresses.

After the game, both Bohm and Manager Rob Thomson spoke on the third baseman’s development in 2023. “I feel like I’m not focusing on hitting the ball out and more just letting it all come to me”. Thomson would later add, “His power is definitely coming, he’s gotten bigger and stronger, it’s showing”.

Both Stott and Bohm have taken huge steps forward in a short period of time, leaving room for caution when deciding if it’s time to fully hop on the “bandwagon”. Hot starts are a regular commodity in April and things are always bound to cool down, the question does however remain as to how much.

Nevertheless, the start both of these young bats are off to is unprecedented and much needed especially in the extended absence of Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins, and Darick Hall who was placed on the 10-Day IL last week with a Torn Ligament in his left thumb.

Moving forward the Phillies are going to need all the help they can get, at least until reinforcements arrive from the IL. Stott and Bohm will lead that effort as the Phils prepare to traverse through an 18-straight-game stretch, followed by May which may prove to be their toughest month on the schedule.