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Phillies' Edmundo Sosa expanding versatility under Don Mattingly
Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Edmundo Sosa. Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Phillies' Edmundo Sosa expanding versatility under Don Mattingly

Infielder Edmundo Sosa has been somewhat of a Swiss Army Knife this season for the Philadelphia Phillies. In his 21 games played, Sosa has played second base (12 games, nine starts), third base (six games, five starts) and shortstop (five games, one start). 

In Game 2 of the Phillies' three-game series with the Colorado Rockies, interim manager Don Mattingly will utilize Sosa in left field, as third baseman Alec Bohm returns from his "reset." Sosa isn't new to the outfield, as he has played seven games in center field and four games in left field, with this being his second start. 

Edmundo Sosa's versatility will expand for the Phillies in the series versus the Rockies

Sosa has only shown to be a plus defender at third base (26 defensive runs saved) and shortstop (71 defensive runs saved), while second base (-50 defensive runs saved and three errors) has been a struggle. Thankfully for Sosa, his bat has helped keep him in the lineup -- Sosa was hitting .278 with a .693 OPS before going 0-for-8 in his last two ballgames. 

Mattingly, wanting to keep Sosa's bat in the lineup, comes at the expense of center fielder Justin Crawford. Crawford was one of the leaders in the Phillies' attempted comeback, as he went 3-for-4 and hit his first big league home run. 

Since Sosa is not a natural outfielder, he will be borrowing his teammate, designated hitter and part-time outfielder Kyle Schwarber's outfield glove, according to OnPattison's Tim Kelly

Edmundo Sosa will see his playing time rise if Alec Bohm and Bryson Stott struggle

Bohm has been absent from the Phillies' lineup for the past couple of games to give himself time to reflect and rebound from his struggles. The former All-Star (2024) is hitting .159 with a .433 OPS and one home run in 35 games. 

Second baseman Bryson Stott has also struggled at the plate this season, hitting .211 with a .622 OPS in 33 games. Bohm and Stott's struggles have led to Sos receiving more playing time, and could continue with both seemingly unable to pull themselves out of their cold spells. 

Adding playing the outfield to his repertoire will also help keep Sosa in the lineup, as he can fill in if Crawford or right fielder Adolis Garcia need a day off. 

Zachary Cariola

My name is Zachary Cariola and I have been a sports fan for as long as I can remember. My areas of expertise are MLB, NBA, and NFL. When I’m not writing, I love spending time with my family and learning history. 

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