The postseason is a time when all phases of an MLB organization are tested. For the Philadelphia Phillies, stars like Bryce Harper, Kyle Schwarber, Cristopher Sanchez, and Trea Turner have massive roles this upcoming October.
But, aside from the obvious stars, there are a lot of other facets of the game that are also massively important for the team in the postseason. One of those aspects is the Phillies' bench, and how they can come into the game in case of an injury or for an advantage.
Fortunately for the Phillies, as Matt Gelb of The Athletic reports, the Phillies got some good news on one of their best bench bats in beloved infielder Edmundo Sosa. He's expected to return to the club at the start of the Phillies' penultimate series against the Miami Marlins.
Phillies expected to get Edmundo Sosa back for Marlins series, ahead of postseason
"Edmundo Sosa (groin) went through strenuous workouts over the weekend," Gelb writes, "And he should be activated on Tuesday when eligible."
This is some great news for the Phillies for multiple reasons. Not only does it help stabilize the bench, but it is also important insurance in case Trea Turner can't return to form right away.
Sosa can slide into the starting shortstop role if necessary, allowing Bryson Stott to stick at second base, and Alec Bohm at third base to round out a strong infield.
This season, Sosa has a .270 batting average in 85 games played, with 62 hits, 26 runs scored, 12 doubles, one triple, seven home runs, and 33 RBIs. His OPS of .725 is a solid number and good enough for the Phillies as a backup infielder.
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As mentioned, with Turner's injury return being uncertain, Sosa's return to the lineup is huge for the Phillies. Normally, he'd just be a strong bench option. But now, he's a massive insurance piece for Turner if he can't go.
While Sosa hasn't played much this season, less than the previous two years in Philadelphia at this point, he's still a major component of the team's World Series odds.
At worst, he's a valuable bench bat and defender when needed. At best, he can take over for Turner if his hamstring injury lingers longer than the Phillies anticipate.
It might not be the most important injury update on the surface, but this report from Gelb is huge news for the Phillies heading into the final week of the season.
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