The Philadelphia Phillies seem to have players that have a knack for making big hits at big times in big games.
Add Bryson Stott to the list.
Stott’s grand slam in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card series with the Miami Marlins made a 3-0 game into a 7-0 blowout. He blasted that pitch into right field and set off a sold-out Citizens Bank Field.
If it’s possible, Stott’s grand slam is better without the announcer’s call and with just the crowd noise providing an unmistakable soundtrack for Stott’s incredible hit.
It was an uncommon opportunity for Stott, who has developed into a selective hitter. Per The Athletic, Stott is among the bottom 10 players in the league in first-pitch swings. In other words, you may as well throw him a strike and get ahead 0-1 because he’s unlikely to swing at it.
He changed that narrative on Wednesday, at least for one at-bat.
It was an out-of-body experience for Stott, who admits that he didn’t realize he performed a celebratory bat spike after the swing.
“I didn't even know I even did the bat spike,” Stott said. “(Garrett Stubbs) Stubby told me. I don't usually pimp home runs. I don't think I hit them far enough to do that. So it just kind of got caught up in the moment, I guess.”
It was also proof that the work that Stott put in this offseason paid off. After the game, Stott talked about how he struggled with fastballs from left-handed pitchers last season. Wednesday was the exact situation he worked on all offseason — a fastball from a left-handed pitcher and make sure he could drive the ball.
“Did a lot of left-handed stuff, which is my top hand, one-arm swings, one-handed tee drills and stuff like that, to really make sure I'm using it since I throw right-handed,” Stott said. “That's kind of my dominant and lead arm. So being able to use that is big.”
Now, Stott and the Phillies are on their way to Atlanta of the National League Division Series, with Game 1 set for Saturday.
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