Nick Maton has been scorching hot since joining the Philadelphia Phillies at the major league level. On the season, Maton is slashing .316/.341/.468 with an .810 OPS. Maton has 25 hits in 79 at-bats with two home runs, seven RBI, and two stolen bases.

Looking at the National League Rookie Rankings, Maton ranks in the top five in every key category for players with a minimum of 60 plate appearances.

• AVG (.316) – 2ND
• OBP (.341) – 5TH
• wOBA (.352) – 2ND
• fWAR (0.7) – 2ND

What Maton has been able to do against left-handed pitching is extremely encouraging. The 24-year old has been absolutely destroying lefties, slashing .419/.419/.677 with a 1.097 OPS in 31 at-bats. Against righties, the numbers also hold up, slashing .250/.294/.333 with a .627 OPS in 48 at-bats.

Maton hit the first home run of his career in the fifth inning of yesterday’s 10-8 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays. He then hit another home run in the sixth. Maton became the first Phillies player to hit his first two career home runs in the same game since Rhys Hoskins in August 2017.

Maton drove in four of the Phillies eight runs yesterday. He finished the game Nick Maton 3-for-4 with two home runs and four RBI. Although it’s early into the 2021 season, to leave Maton out of the National League Rookie of the Year discussion would be criminal.

The Phillies will need to figure out where Maton can fit into the lineup in the very near future. To date, Maton has benefitted from the depth and injury problems the Phillies continue to deal with. The Phillies’ offense has been extremely inconsistent to say the very least. There is no possible way that you can leave Maton out of the lineup with such a hot bat.

Up Next: The Phillies are a half game behind the New York Mets in the NL East with a record of 21-20 and will open up a three game series against the 18-22 Miami Marlins tomorrow night at home.

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Mandatory Credit: NBC Sports Philadelphia