Phillies 2019 First Round Pick Has ‘Family Connection’ with Harpers

Philadelphia Phillies 2019 MLB Draft 14th overall pick Bryson Stott alongside Bryce and Kayla Harper (h/t @PrimeRhys).

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Outside of the family of the Philadelphia Phillies' first-round selection in the 2019 amateur draft — shortstop Bryson Stott — the next most excited family may not be who you would expect.

RELATED | Phillies Select SS Bryson Stott with No. 14 Overall Pick in MLB Draft

Not Phillies Managing Partner John Middleton's family, nor that of General Manager Matt Klentak's.

Rather, that of Phillies perennial All-Star right fielder, Bryce Harper.

Stott has been described as a "dynamic middle infielder who can play exceptional defense, hit for average and hit for power," by Johnny Almaraz, Phillies Director of Amateur Scouting, who adds that the 21-year-old is a "leader" with "tremendous intangibles."

Like Harper, Stott grew up in Las Vegas, and attended high school just over 20 miles away from Harper's. Drawing more comparisons, both players are 6-foot-3 tall and are Team USA alumni.

The connection goes much deeper than that.

Stott recently told the MLB-credentialed Patrick Gordon that he has a "pretty good relationship" and a family connection with Harper, adding that the Phillies slugger tells him to "have fun and everything will come your way."

Shana Stott, Bryson's mother, was Harper's sister's (Britt) cheerleading coach, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer's Matt Breen, who adds Stott was just 10 years old when Harper was drafted first overall by the Washington Nationals in 2010. 

Breen writes:

It was pretty awesome, Stott said, to watch Harper ascend from hometown hero to one of baseball’s biggest attractions. … Stott was at his Las Vegas home with family and friends when he heard his name called as the Phillies pick at No. 14 in the MLB Draft, three months after the team signed Harper to a $330 million contract.

“To be able to hear my name and breathe again was pretty awesome,” Stott said. …

 

Harper and Stott worked out together in the offseason. Harper, who spends his offseason in Vegas, would drop in on the UNLV baseball program.

Both Bryce and Kayla Harper took to social media shortly following the draft to congratulate Bryson. Bryce and Bryson followed each other on Instagram prior to the draft; the #Phillies newest pick is just one of 163 accounts Bryce follows on the social media photo-sharing platform.

Although Bryce has played in MLB since 2012, he and Stott are approximately just five years apart in age. Stott is expected to rise quickly within the Phillies' system, and soon, the two "family friends" will be teammates.

“Just being able to watch [Bryce] and what he’s done on that stage and how he works in the offseason and in the season is a big, helpful thing for me, and I hope to continue doing that," Stott said.