With elbow injury behind him, Stott looks to rebound in '25

CLEARWATER, Fla. -- Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Alec Bohm started for the National League at last year’s All-Star Game in Texas.

The other member of the Phillies’ starting infield -- Bryson Stott -- watched on TV.

Stott, 27, entered 2024 with All-Star aspirations. He finished ’23 with the eighth-highest WAR (4.3) of any second baseman in the Majors, hitting better than .300 until August 11 before finishing at .280 in his first full season in the big leagues. Stott was also a Gold Gove finalist.

But Stott injured his right elbow in a game last May. He struggled offensively the rest of the way.

“I messed up this nerve,” Stott said Monday afternoon at BayCare Ballpark, where the Phillies held their first full-squad workout. “I was hitting really good. I was like, 'All right, I'm feeling back to normal.' After the rough first month, kind of got it going. Took a weird swing. It made my pinkie go numb. And I was like, 'It's whatever.' Then I took another one a week or so later and it just kind of lingered the whole time. It was kind of when I was out in front, fooled and had that hyperextension. It would make my fingers go numb. I'd have to call time and then it'd feel fine. I think as I kind of kept going and going, it got weaker and weaker. I was trying to compensate with different parts of my body. It got me into some bad habits.”

Stott batted .245 with 11 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .671 OPS. Phillies manager Rob Thomson said the team considered placing Stott on the IL, but he was considered healthy enough to play. So, he played.

Stott’s injured elbow became one of 2024’s best-kept secrets.

“It’s not an excuse,” Stott said. “I wanted to play and just kind of go through it. It didn't work on the offensive side of the ball.”

After the Phillies’ season ended in four games in the NL Division Series vs. the Mets, Stott went home and rested.

“I didn't do anything for like a month,” Stott said. “I didn't golf. I didn't swing. I held the baby with my left arm. Just kind of let my right arm hang from my side. Let it calm down.”

He is optimistic the issue is behind him.

“I don't think anyone knows,” he said. “I swung a couple of times today in live BP. That's where it happens. And I felt good.”

If it is behind Stott, and if it caused his considerable struggles at the plate, he is a potential bounce-back candidate.

“I think he’s going to have a much better season than he had last year,” Thomson said. “I think whenever you have that type of injury, as you’re approaching the baseball and thinking about your finish, I think it just changes your swing a little bit in guarding against the swing and miss.”

“Hitting the ball was great,” Stott said. “You didn't get that jolt or anything like that. … I still tried to put together long at-bats. It's not like I had a limp right arm. When I hit the ball, it was fine. It was just the swing and miss or a ball off the end of the bat or any hyperextension.”

Maybe health will allow Stott to barrel fastballs again. He hit only .220 with a .350 slugging percentage against fastballs last year, after batting .304 with a .439 slugging percentage against them in 2023.

“Just do what I did in ’23 -- use the whole field,” Stott said. “And obviously just the type of hitter I am, my power's to right. I know that. The league knows that. They don't want to throw the ball in there, then I got to take my hits to left, obviously. And I'm OK with that. Because I could steal second. I could steal third. We have plenty of guys who are going to hit the homers. My job is to be on when they do.”

If all that happens, maybe he could make the All-Star team this summer in Atlanta.

“There’s a lot of good second basemen and infielders in the league,” Stott said. “I’ve just got to play better than that.”