Philadelphia Phillies utility player Weston Wilson is creating a playing time dilemma with recent performances. In 17 games this season Wilson is batting .362/.380/.660 line three home runs and seven RBI. To add to that, Wilson has a .433 wOBA, 182 wRC+ and a .400 BABIP this season. FanGraphs gives Wilson a 5.2 offensive value this season, which is pretty good for a player who got called up to replace Whit Merrifield who was released on July 12. Wilson has also improved compared to last season by increasing his wRC+, SLG and OPS. Wilson is also hitting the ball harder and producing more barrels this season. Half of the batted balls Wilson has hit this season have been considered hard hit.
In six games through August, Wilson is hitting .579/.600/1.000. Additionally, Wilson has a 342 wRC+ and a .668 wOBA to go with that slash line. He has a .714 BABIP for the month and his 1.600 OPS Wilson this month easily leads the Phillies. Kyle Schwarber has a .893 OPS this month which is the second-closest to Wilson. Wilson has the best batting average, on-base percentage and slugging percentage on the Phillies in August. This month Wilson has a 0.6 fWAR which leads Phillies position players. Wilson has the best August wRC+ and the second-best OPS among players with at least 10 plate appearances. For comparison, Aaron Judge has a 301 wRC+ and a 1.510 OPS in August.
Weston Wilson is Making a Case for More Playing Time
The impending return of Austin Hays complicates this situation as well. Currently, the plan is for Hays to return on Friday according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Wilson has been getting regular playing time in left field while Hays has been out. Wilson has been platooning with Brandon Marsh in left field. Johan Rojas has also been playing well while Hays has been on the injured list. Rojas has a .773 OPS and a 116 wRC+ in that span. Meanwhile, Marsh has a .570 OPS and a 56 wRC+ in that span. Strikeouts have also been a concern for Marsh. In that span, Marsh has a 42.9% strikeout rate compared to a 24.1% strikeout rate for Rojas.
Unless the Phillies want to play Austin Hays in center field against left-handed pitchers, which is unlikely to happen, there is no room for a regular role for Wilson. A Wilson and Rojas outfield pairing in certain situations against right-handed pitchers could become more common. Marsh has a .572 OPS and a 63 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers on the road this season. Hays also struggles against right-handed pitching. This season Hays has a .586 OPS and a 66 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers. Wilson has a .770 OPS and a 111 wRC+ against right-handed pitchers this season. Outside of a slightly expanded outfield role, there is no room for more playing time for Wilson.
The Defensive Flexibility Wilson Has
One thing that could earn Wilson more playing time is his defensive versatility. In the majors, Wilson has played five different positions. Wilson has played first base, second base, third base, left field and right field in the majors. Putting Wilson in the lineup more often when a star player needs a day off is a way to reward his recent performance. Wilson has also made appearances at shortstop and center field in the minor leagues. Outside of left field, the position Wilson has played the most in the majors is second base. Rosters expand from 26 to 28 players on September 1. Depending on which position player the Phillies bring up this could allow for more flexibility to use Wilson as a pinch hitter in late-game situations.
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