Citing a need to play everyday, the Phillies optioned top prospect Bryson Stott to Triple-A Lehigh Valley Monday. Initially, Stott was slotted into third base against right-handed hitters, but with Alec Bohm returning to the offensive form that he had shown at the position in 2020 and Johan Camargo emerging as a super-utility player, the opportunities for Stott dried up.
The move prompted a domino effect of moves by the Phillies. With Stott exiting the 28-man roster – which gets cut to 26 players on Sunday – there was an opening. The Phillies decided to purchase the contract of outfielder Roman Quinn, who had recently re-signed with the team on a minor league deal, but that created another issue since there was no room on the 40-man roster to put Quinn. To clear a spot for him, pitcher Ryan Sherriff (left shoulder strain) was moved to the 60-day IL, which effectively takes him off of the roster until he is activated from the IL.
Stott was hitless in his last 18 at-bats with the Phillies and saw his average drop from .286 to .161 and he had just one plate appearance in the last week. By sending him to Lehigh Valley, the Phillies will be able to have Stott play everyday and get time on the field not just at his natural position of shortstop, but get time to work defensively at both second and third base. Stott had played just 10 games at the Triple-A level in his career prior to making the major league team out of spring training.
Meanwhile, Quinn had been playing at Lehigh Valley since signing a minor league deal with the Phillies earlier in April. In six games with the IronPigs, Quinn was hitting .294 (5-for-17) with a home run and two RBI. He also had an impressive .520 OBP and .647 SLG with Lehigh Valley. Quinn has played 178 MLB games with the Phillies but became a free agent following last season after being designated for assignment and signed a minor league deal with the Miami Marlins. In spring training, Quinn hit just .083 and was cut loose by Miami. With both Odubel Herrera (oblique) and Mickey Moniak (hand) on the IL at the time, the Phillies were short on center fielders and quickly re-signed Quinn.
Stott will join the IronPigs on their current road trip that takes them to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and Syracuse before they return home on May 10 against Buffalo. Stott will wear his usual number-five with Lehigh Valley and pitcher Jonathan Hennigan will change numbers to number-three.