The Best Phillies Story Of A Remarkable First Half
The narrative surrounding Alec Bohm is as interesting as his performance in the middle of the lineup for the Philadelphia Phillies this season.
Bohm finds himself in a position as the cleanup hitter for a World Series favorite. It seemed unthinkable just two years ago. He’ll travel to Arlington, Texas next week to make his first MLB All-Star Game appearance and compete in the Home Run Derby.
Alec Bohm: MLB All-Star
Bohm leads the major leagues in doubles with 30. Only Aaron Judge, Jose Ramirez, and Marcell Ozuna have driven home more runs in 2024.
His abilities to cover the whole plate with his swing and hit to all fields have always been key elements of his talent as a hitter.
Development in specific areas of the game has driven his overall value to the Phillies, however. He’s improved his power numbers by developing a stronger pull swing that’s helped him rack up the extra-base hits.
Bohm will probably never compete for a Gold Glove, and most defensive metrics grade him as a net negative fielder. However, he’s made steady improvement at the hot corner that has allowed the entire lineup to fall into place defensively.
The Phillies looked like a team made up of DHs only two years ago. Bohm’s ability to shake off the label as a liability at third and Bryce Harper’s move to first base has drastically increased Rob Thomson’s lineup flexibility.
The best hitters on the roster now play the field comfortably for the 13th-ranked MLB defense by the FanGraphs Defensive Runs Saved statistic.
A Humbling Success Story
The former third-overall pick didn’t look like he’d stick full time at third base during the infamous “I f—ing hate this place” game in 2022. His future in Philadelphia was in question after he failed to meet high expectations following a short rookie breakout in 2020.
The Phillies came far enough since the incident to lean into the mishap and give away an Alec Bohm “I Love This Place” t-shirt at Citizens Bank Park earlier this season.
Cristopher Sanchez even wore the t-shirt during his media availability after signing a contract extension in June.
These incidents tend to blow over when a World Series appearance comes just a few months later.
The 27-year-old spoke with admirable humility after earning his first MLB All-Star selection two years after Phillies fans read his lips for the notorious quote.
“It’s obviously one of those things that kinda just makes you think about all the time and all the games you’ve played. The good ones, the bad ones. It makes it all worth it… You play baseball long enough, it’s not always going to be pretty, but a lot of those failures and a lot of that stuff are teaching moments too. Little ways to make yourself better in the long run. I think all of it’s kind of happened exactly how it should. It’s brought me to where I am today.” –Alec Bohm
Bohm unquestionably deserves the accolades over bigger names like Nolan Arenado and Austin Riley. The All-Star appearance should become one of the proudest moments of his career.
The Inevitable Slumps
The breakout season hasn’t come without adversity. Bohm stormed out of the gates with an unsustainable .366 average and a 1.036 OPS in March and April. He was due for the inevitable return to Earth that characterizes the sport of baseball.
Bohm cooled off with an underwhelming .243 average in May. The tough stretch culminated during a rough game in the field against the San Francisco Giants on May 27. Was he regressing to his old ways? Did the Phillies have to worry about his unconventional build at third base again.
“I’m not going to just go panic and take a bunch of groundballs for no reason. I missed a couple balls. I didn’t make a play. That’s just what it is. It’s (a) hard game. It’ll humble you, so (I’ll) just get back to it tomorrow.” -Alec Bohm
The slump never broke his confidence, and he rebounded with a modest .284 average in June.
Bohm might still wear the “Phillies Daycare” t-shirt to batting practice or laugh with his roommate Brandon Marsh or Bryson Stott about the collective nickname. However, his maturity and confidence have helped him shed a label as a developing player who hasn’t yet reached his potential.
When Bryce Harper and Kyle Schwarber joined J.T. Realmuto on the injured list on June 28, the lineup looked thin.
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The Phillies struggled offensively in a loss to the Miami Marlins the following afternoon. Could they keep their heads above water with their stars out?
Bohm blasted a two-run homer in the first inning of the series finale one day later. The Phillies breathed a sigh of relief and scored seven runs to escape with a series split.
He helped carry the team to another victory at Wrigley Field two days later. The consistency has helped a depleted lineup avoid panicking and maintain a steady lead over the Atlanta Braves in the NL East.
It also helped him earn one of the highest honors of his career in a trip to the MLB All-Star Game.
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