If the Phillies miss the playoffs, what’s this year’s story?

Nick Maton

If there was a game this season that looked a little like the Phillies’ future, it was probably the Aug. 23 win over the Reds. After Bryson Stott barely missed a two-run homer that would have been his second walk-off hit of the season, Nick Maton banged a single to right field to walk-off the win, scoring Stott, who had settled for a double.

Two of the kids did it, the 24-year-old shortstop and the 25-year-old utility man who fits into several positions very well. This particular evening, they did it against the Reds closer, Alexis Diaz, who had not been scored on in August to that point.

Maton had 131 plate appearances in 2021, but didn’t return to the Phillies until June 1 of this year – for two games – then again Aug. 6, that time to stick with the big club.

In less than half a season’s games over two campaigns, Maton has hit .264, this season .281 with an OPS of 1.005. In 26 games with the Phillies in ’22 he has five home runs, two doubles, and a triple, showing surprising power for a 178-pounder. He also began to play outfield this year, and definitely passes the eye test out there, particularly in right field.

In all, Nick Maton has played second, third, short, left, and right for the Phillies, as well as filling in twice as a pitcher in blow-out games. He appears to be the likely heir to Segura a second base.

Matt Vierling

A top-twenty MLB sprinter, Matt Vierling is primarily an outfielder who has been replaced at this point by Brandon Marsh. The Phillies apparently feel that the tall, right-handed hitter may not “be the answer” in center field that Marsh potentially is, but this doesn’t mean the team will definitely cut ties with Vierling.

He hasn’t hit quite as expected, but is still only 26 and shows the ability to hit when particularly needed, as noted above (Sept. 17). He also definitely raised a few eyebrows when he homered deep to left-center field off Josh Hader June 7 to put the Phillies ahead late in a game.

There’s a decent chance, however, that Vierling could be dealt for pitching talent over the off-season. In addition to playing the outfield, the speedster has played first, second, and third for Philadelphia.

As the Phillies struggle to hold onto a playoff slot this season, it should be noted that whether or not they are able to do that, they are a much better team than they fielded for the last several years. They are potentially a very much better team, and this is in no small part because of the younger players on their roster who have filled in so ably for injured players, and in some cases seem poised to take starting jobs.