Guest Feature from Tim Kelly

All-Star Break Phillies Nuggets

The Philadelphia Phillies will enter the second half of the 2023 regular season with a 48-41 record, a half game back of the San Francisco Giants for the final Wild Card spot in the National League. 

Here are 10 takeaways from covering the first half of the regular season, as the start of the second half of the season looms.

1. Bryson Stott Looks Like a Core Piece

While the Phillies were defeated by the Miami Marlins in the final game before the All-Star Break, Stott recorded his 100th hit of the season, already matching the total that he posted during 127 games in his rookie season. 

With the likes of Luis Arraez and Ozzie Albies in the NL East alone, Stott got caught up in a numbers game when it came time to determine All-Stars for the senior circuit at second base. But make no mistake, outside of Nick Castellanos, Stott has been the Phillies most valuable position player during the first half of the season. 

The former first-round pick is slashing .301/.338/.422 with 16 stolen bases and a .760 OPS in his second MLB season. What’s more, the signing of Trea Turner to play shortstop pushed Stott to second base on a full-time basis, where he’s played at a Gold Glove caliber. Stott is second to Nico Hoerner of the Chicago Cubs among NL second basemen in outs above average with five. For good measure, the 25-year-old also has four defensive runs saved.

2. Obviously, Aaron Nola and Zack Wheeler Need To Be Better