Bryson Stott adjusting to the new challenge of playing third base; Jhoan Duran makes first return to Minnesota

MINNEAPOLIS — Off the bat, Bryson Stott thought the ball was foul. But it bounced back into the infield, and once he charged and barehanded it, there wasn’t time to make a play in the first inning Thursday night in Iowa.

Welcome back to playing third base.

“It’s little things like that you don’t see at second,” Stott said Saturday before making his 11th consecutive start at third base since switching positions after the trade deadline. “But I’m just trying to catch it and throw it over there. I couldn’t care less how it looks.”

» READ MORE: The Phillies know what’s needed to make the playoffs. Here’s how the race for the last two spots is shaping up.

Actually, it has looked really good. It isn’t only the eye test, either. The metrics, from defensive runs saved to outs above average and fielding run value, suggest Stott is playing above-average defense at third base.

If you didn’t know he had only two games of experience at the position before this month — none since April 2022 — well, you wouldn’t know.

Stott has displayed the arm strength for third base. But as a former shortstop, he said reacclimating to a longer throw wasn’t a big concern even after spending the last 3½ seasons making the easier throw from second.

Instead, it was becoming familiar with the different way in which the ball comes off the bat to the hot corner compared to the middle of the infield.

“It was more kind of the angles and playing the bunt, and then a guy swings and hits one down the line,” Stott said. “It’s a lot faster than at second. You always hear ‘a step and a dive’ at third, so there’s nothing really you can do when you’re that close and they hit it that hard.

“Once I kind of learned that, when they hit it 107 [mph] down the line and I’m off the line, it’s a really hard play. It’s not one that’s like, how’d you miss that? At second, if they hit it 4 feet to my left or 5 feet to my left and I don’t catch it, I’m going to be mad at myself no matter how hard they hit it.”

Although Stott was among the best defenders in the league at second base, the Phillies moved him to third — and Alec Bohm to first, and Bryce Harper to right field — to accommodate the deadline trade for second baseman Luis Arraez.

» READ MORE: The Phillies break out of their rut enjoying the sights of Field of Dreams — and deliver a needed win

Interim manager Don Mattingly and infield coach Bobby Dickerson expressed confidence that Stott could handle the new position. But entering the weekend, Stott got positive marks in defensive runs saved (plus-1) and outs above average (plus-2) at third base.

Stott said it hasn’t been as easy as he’s made it look.

“Some of those weird slow-roller angles, where I’m moving left and throwing right and things like that, I’ve never had to really do before,” said Stott, who is second in baseball in FanGraphs’ wins above replacement (2.7) since June 4. “Bohm’s done a crazy job just picking those balls for me. I think he’s already picked three that I haven’t done on purpose.

“But it’s been good. Any time a ball’s hit in my direction, I want to catch it. I still get made at myself, even playing third, when I don’t.”

Jhoan Duran got traded to the Phillies 381 days ago.

At last, he returned to Minnesota.

“It’s really good, really good to be back,” the star closer said before receiving a pregame video tribute from the Twins. “A little sad, too, because I am being on this side. I remember when the schedule was out, I turned to my wife and said to her, ‘I want to go to Minnesota. I can’t wait for that.’”

Duran made his major-league debut for the Twins in April 2022 and became their full-time closer the next season. He picked up 74 saves for the Twins, 10th on the franchise’s all-time list.

» READ MORE: ‘You’ve got a closer.’ How the Phillies nabbed Jhoan Duran and Harrison Bader at the trade deadline.

In acquiring Duran last season, the Phillies made their biggest deadline trade in years, packing teenage catching prospect Eduardo Tait and righty Mick Abel. Tait, 19, has 20 homers for high-A Cedar Rapids; Abel has a 3.98 ERA in four games (three starts) for the Twins but likely will miss the rest of the season after arthroscopic elbow surgery in July.

Duran, meanwhile, may be having the best season ever for a Phillies closer. Entering the weekend, he had a 1.70 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 42⅓ innings, and was 25-for-27 in save opportunities.

Mattingly said the Phillies have discussed using Duran for more than three outs down the stretch.

“It’s something that we talked about just the other day,” Mattingly said, “that it’s kind of that time to have that conversation with him so he’s prepared for it. I think really all of [the relievers] at this point. I feel like, as long as we’re rested, you start thinking about [Jonathan] Bowlan at a one-[inning]-plus. You think about the same thing with [Orion Kerkering], any of the guys that have been throwing the ball well.”

Stott donated his game-worn Field of Dreams cleats to the Hall of Fame. The custom-designed footwear pays tribute to Phillies legends Tug McGraw, Roy Halladay, Darren Daulton, Robin Roberts, Richie Ashburn, and Harry Kalas. … With the Phillies facing a non-opener lefty starter for the first time since Aug. 3, Edmundo Sosa got a rare start in left field. … Backup catcher Rafael Marchan (knee) is scheduled to play nine innings Sunday in triple A, according to Mattingly, who said Marchan is “doing better.” … Lefty reliever Tanner Banks (forearm) is lined up for another bullpen session Sunday before possibly moving to live batting practice. … Andrew Painter (2-8, 6.27 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale at 2:10 p.m. ET Sunday against Twins righty Dean Kremer (2-4, 5.25).