'I know he can hit': Stott hopes homer, effort will spark resurgence

MIAMI -- All looks to be well with Bryson Stott and his right elbow.

After hyperextending it during a swing Monday night against the Marlins, the Phillies featured Stott in their lineup Tuesday, and though he got good wood on a few balls, he went 0-for-4 in the team’s 8-3 loss.

But Wednesday night at loanDepot park, Stott was the Phillies' main runs provider, going yard with a three-run homer to put Philly up by four runs in the fourth inning. The Phils won the third of four games against Miami, 4-2, to take the series lead, with Stott going 2-for-3 on the night with a walk and a stolen base.

Meanwhile, Ranger Suárez did Ranger Suárez things on the bump. The 29-year-old Venezuelan recorded seven innings of one-run ball in his sixth win of the year (6-1 in nine starts). Suárez allowed just four hits -- one of which was a solo HR -- while walking two and fanning eight.

The man who’s known for coaxing ground balls (Suárez’s 54% ground-ball rate entering Wednesday ranked in the 90th percentile) had that ability on full display. Suárez earned seven outs on the ground, including a double play, also showing why he had a 98th-percentile barrel rate (2.1%) heading into the game.

Phillies fans are used to seeing these types of outings from Suárez. But plus days at the plate have come few and far between for Stott as of late.

By and large, things have not gone his way offensively in 2025. He carried career-low numbers in batting average (.232), slugging percentage (.324) and OPS (.620) heading into Wednesday’s affair. June has been a particularly low stretch for him at the plate: Stott was 7-for-52 (.135) for the month heading into the contest.

Still, manager Rob Thomson has remained confident in the second baseman’s ability to produce.

“He's hit into some tough luck lately,” Thomson said pregame Wednesday. “A lot of line drives, hit a couple of balls hard last night, right at people.

“Don't tinker,” he said regarding Stott’s approach. “Just keep doing your thing. They'll end up falling.”

Fall they did for Stott in the win, as he followed up the Statcast-projected 396-foot homer (his fifth of the year) with a walk in the sixth inning and an infield single in the eighth.

He swiped a bag shortly thereafter -- his 12th of the season.

Having multiple tools in his kit is something Stott takes pride in, and it’s helped him remain effective despite his hitting slump.

He ranks in the 91st percentile in baserunning run value (per Statcast), and the 83rd in fielding run value, while his outs above average mark is in the 92nd.

“I always try to separate the game into three phases,” he said. “And obviously you want to play well at all times in all three.

“But I feel like defense and baserunning [are] two things you can control no matter what. Take extra 90s, or stealing bases, or not making any dumb mental mistakes in the field: It’s something I can control no matter what.”

And things aren’t all bad for him at the plate -- not by a long shot.

Stott led MLB in pitches per plate appearance (4.49) entering Wednesday, while his chase rate has dropped nearly six percentage points from 2024 to 2025. Meanwhile, his four games with three or more RBIs ranks second on the squad behind Kyle Schwarber.

For Stott, his experience is helping him ride the wave of the long season, while not getting caught in the currents of low moments.

“Maybe a couple of years ago I would be mentally in a pretzel,” he said, “and trying to change every part of my swing … but just as I’ve kind of gotten older, and talking to [hitting coach] Kevin [Long], it’s all luck. You take your best swing, and once you take your swing, you have no control over that.

“As long as I’m swinging at the right pitches, and not chasing, and my swing feels there, I have all the confidence in the world.”

Thomson is not worried about the second baseman’s numbers. For the Phillies manager, the 27-year-old’s work ethic speaks for itself.

“I’ve seen him hit for a while now, and I know he can hit,” Thomson said. “I know he controls the strike zone, sees a lot of pitches. He can use the entire field, and he’s got occasional pop -- which we saw tonight. … Plus, he’s one of the best second basemen in baseball, so you have to stay with that.”