Philadelphia Phillies: The best way to use rookie Bryson Stott

Bryson Stott has made the Opening Day roster. The Philadelphia Phillies will roll with their best young positional player prospect right out of the gate. The left-handed-hitting infielder shined this spring and won his way into every fan’s vocabulary.

What’s next for Stott? Does he make the Opening Day lineup at third base? Or will the Phillies use him in another way?

A shortstop for most of his minor league innings, Stott can and should be used for much more.

How the Philadelphia Phillies can best use Bryson Stott this season.

Stott has won an Opening Day job but the battle for starts will rage on. His biggest competition for an everyday role is with third baseman Alec Bohm. The down-on-his-luck incumbent player at third base, Bohm is the right-handed option the Phillies can go with regularly versus tough lefties.

Don’t call it a platoon. Let’s present this more as an easy way for Joe Girardi to decide most days of the week who starts at third base. When it’s a righty on the mound, Stott should get the chance. When the other team puts a southpaw on the hill, it’s Bohm time.

Stott’s abilities go beyond this. Because he can play shortstop, he is the obvious guy to play that position in place of starter Didi Gregorius whenever he needs a day off regardless of the handedness of the pitcher.

Then there’s Jean Segura at second base. Another position Stott can easily play, the occasional off-day for him should have Stott placed at second base.

The Phillies also have the switch-hitting veteran Johan Camargo on their bench for those days when they put together what we can refer to as a “Sunday lineup.” You’ve seen them before. You head dead to Veteran’s Stadium on Scott Rolen Day only to find out Scott Rolen isn’t in the starting lineup. I was there, or at least the Mandela Effect has taken place, and I believe I was.

In the recent past, the Phillies haven’t had much luck with young players roving around the field. Scott Kingery is the prime example of this. He was often found playing a different position each day. However, there is a difference. He was regularly playing shortstop and center field. Neither was a natural spot for him. To make sure the same fate doesn’t befall Stott, his main position needs to be third base. Opportunities at second base or shortstop should only come the same way they do for anyone else.

Stott’s success also shouldn’t negate any productivity Bohm can bring. They need to find ways to get him at-bats. Over the course of a long season, it will happen. Injuries will occur. All hands will need to be on deck.