Alec Bohm

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Alec Daniel Bohm

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Biographical Information[edit]

Third baseman Alec Bohm was the third overall pick of the 2018 amateur draft, out of Wichita State University. Born in Lincoln, NE, he grew up and attended high school in Omaha, NE. With a frame more commonly found on a first baseman than a third baseman, he hit for both average and power in college, as well as drawing a lot of walks. He hit .339 with 14 doubles and 16 homers in 57 games as a junior in 2018. His selection was not a surprise, as he was considered one of the top college hitters in the draft and was widely linked to the Philadelphia Phillies, who selected him. He signed with the Phillies on June 11th, agreeing to a signing bonus of $5.85 million.

Bohm started off his pro career slowly at first, but got off to a blazing start to the 2019 season. He slashed .367/.441/.595 in 22 games with the Lakewood BlueClaws, to earn a quick promotion to the High-A Clearwater Threshers. That level he devoured too, earning him Florida State League Mid-Season All Star honors and his second promotion before the end of June. Alec then settled in for the rest of the season with the Reading Fightin Phils, where his slash totals were much more tame, (.269/.344/.500) but his power spiked as he tripled his career homer total from 7 to 21 despite appearing in just 63 games with Reading. During that season he was also selected to the 2019 Futures Game, and thereafter he was named to the Arizona Fall League Fall Stars Game and the USA's roster for the 2019 WBSC Premier12 Tournament.

He reached the majors during the abbreviated 2020 season, which was cut to 60 games by the COVID-19 pandemic. He was called up from the Phillies' alternative training site on August 13th and started at third base the rest of the way, appearing in 44 games while hitting .338 with 4 homers and 23 RBIs. This was enough to earn him a spot as the third baseman on the 2020 Topps All-Star Rookie Team. He also finished second behind Devin Williams of the Milwaukee Brewers in the voting for the 2020 National League Rookie of the Year Award. However, 2021 was a big disappointment as his batting average fell to .247 with 7 homers and 47 RBIs. His OPS+ tumbled all the way from 137 his rookie year to 75, well below average, not even taking into account the fact that he led National League third basemen in errors with 15. When he started 2022 slowly, he was booed by fans at Citizens Bank Park when he committed three errors in a game against the New York Mets on April 11th, he was heard grumbling that he "[expletive] hated this place". However, things turned around for him as he ended up turning in a very solid season, batting .280 in 152 games, with 24 doubles, 13 homers, 79 runs and 72 RBIs. His OPS+ was back to 100 and his defensive play was much improved. The Phillies finally made it into the postseason after stagnating around .500 for a few years, and had a magical run. He went 2 for 5 with a pair of walks as they upset the St. Louis Cardinals in two games in the Wild Card Series, and while he did not contribute much in the next two rounds, he did well in the Phillies' loss to the Houston Astros in the World Series, batting .286 with 2 doubles and his only home run of the postseason, scoring twice and driving in two runs.

Notable Achievements[edit]

Further Reading[edit]

  • Paul Casella: "Bohm riding momentum of '22 turnaround", mlb.com, January 23, 2023. [1]
  • Anthony DiComo: "Bohm's defensive bounceback on display for Phils in Game 2: Philadelphia third baseman makes several game-changing plays during 10-0 win", mlb.com, October 18, 2023. [2]
  • Todd Zolecki: "Phillies draft Wichita State 3B Bohm at No. 3: Scouting director praises third baseman's power to all fields, mlb.com, June 4, 2018. [3]
  • Todd Zolecki: "Was it nothing? Bohm reveals untold story from World Series HR", mlb.com, February 20, 2023. [4]

Related Sites[edit]