The Philadelphia Phillies’ Outfield Experiment
The Philadelphia Phillies are exploring new ways to enhance their offensive production, and part of that strategy involves testing different outfield configurations. Under the guidance of interim manager Don Mattingly, the team has initiated a series of platoon changes that have led to Edmundo Sosa returning to the outfield.
Sosa has made two appearances in the outfield this season, including one start in left field. His second appearance lasted just one inning, after which Justin Crawford was brought in as a pinch hitter. Throughout his major league career, Sosa has played 22 1/3 defensive innings in the outfield, split between left field and center field. Most of his time in the outfield has been spent in left field, with both of his major league starts also occurring at that position.
In terms of offensive performance, Sosa has posted a .250/.271/.338 batting line with one home run and 11 RBI in 24 games this season. He has a 69 wRC+ along with a .308 BABIP and a 0.13 BB/K rate. As a right-handed batter, Sosa has shown platoon splits this year. Against left-handed pitchers, he has a .616 OPS and a 74 wRC+, while against right-handed pitchers, his numbers drop to a .600 OPS and a 62 wRC+. However, when looking at his overall performance, Sosa has a .785 OPS and a 115 wRC+ against left-handed pitchers, compared to a .677 OPS and an 85 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers.
The Phillies’ decision to test Sosa in the outfield comes after last season’s hot start by another infielder, which prompted the team to try Sosa in the outfield to keep his bat in the lineup.
Increasing Defensive Versatility
The Phillies’ return to having Sosa work in the outfield is a strategic move aimed at increasing defensive versatility. During spring training, the team worked on creating flexibility by giving Garrett Stubbs opportunities to play third base and corner outfield positions. Stubbs has made major league appearances at third base and left field this season. The more flexibility a team has defensively, the better it can adapt to different game situations.
This approach is part of a broader effort to expand the team’s defensive alignment options. Kyle Schwarber has also made appearances at first base under Mattingly’s leadership. Compared to previous manager Rob Thomson, Mattingly seems more invested in these efforts. Schwarber is expected to get more work at first base moving forward.
Underperforming Player Heating Up
Alec Bohm’s recent improvement has made the Phillies’ outfield experiment more viable. In March and April, Bohm struggled, posting a .151/.218/.208 line with one home run and 13 RBI in 29 games. However, in May, he has turned things around, recording a .316/.366/.500 line with two home runs and seven RBI in 11 games. His wRC+ has jumped from 20 in the first two months of the season to 144 in May.
This turnaround makes it less likely that Bohm will be benched for an extended period, allowing Sosa to continue playing in the outfield. If Bohm can maintain his May success, it could provide the team with more opportunities to utilize Sosa in the outfield.
Reasons For The Change
Sosa and Félix Reyes are the only right-handed bats on the Phillies’ bench. Reyes, however, has struggled, posting a .158/.158/.263 line with one home run and two RBI in 12 major league games. He has a 8 wRC+ and a .179 BABIP with a 0.00 BB/K rate. After Otto Kemp was demoted, Reyes took over an outfield platoon role.
With three catchers on the roster and Reyes underperforming, giving Sosa opportunities in the outfield allows Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh to remain everyday players. Since taking over, Mattingly has seemed to platoon Crawford more than Marsh. Additionally, the Phillies lack quality position player depth in the minor leagues, which is why Reyes hasn’t been optioned yet.
