Bryce Harper has been putting on an MVP-caliber show at the plate over the past few weeks, and the Philadelphia Phillies are finally starting to reap the rewards. But he's not the only one heating up in the City of Brotherly Love.
Bryson Stott is quietly turning heads, and Harper wants everyone to know it. Over the last two weeks, the 28-year-old infielder has posted a .755 OPS while launching three home runs in just his last two games. That's the kind of hot streak that can change the complexion of a lineup.
"He's an everyday player," Harper said emphatically on Tuesday evening. "When you have a guy who needs to play every day, lefty or right, it doesn't matter. If he's going to keep having good at-bats, he's an everyday guy. He always has been."
The two-time MVP knows a thing or two about consistency. Harper emphasized how tough it is for a player like Stott to find his rhythm when he's not in the lineup regularly. "When you take an everyday guy out of the lineup, it's tough for them to get it going each day. I hope he gets that chance."
What makes Stott's case so compelling? For starters, his splits are remarkably balanced despite not being a switch-hitter. He owns a .706 OPS against right-handed pitchers and a .676 OPS against lefties—numbers that suggest he can handle anyone on the mound.
Digging deeper into the metrics, Stott is showing some serious pop. His average exit velocity sits at 90.5 mph, and his hard-hit rate is an impressive 43.7 percent. If those numbers hold, they'd both be career highs for the second baseman.
Despite Harper's strong endorsement, Stott was notably out of the lineup on Wednesday evening against a left-handed starter. Interim manager Don Mattingly is still working to keep everyone involved, including infielder Edmund Sosa, which means Stott's path to consistent at-bats isn't as clear as Harper might hope.
For a Phillies team looking to make noise down the stretch, finding a way to get Stott in the lineup regularly might be the spark they need.
