Phillies: Alec Bohm Is Opening Eyes This Spring

The Minor Leagues:

Bohm had a solid four year college career at Wichita State. As a result, the Phillies selected him third in the 2018 draft. After he tore up low-A and high-A at the start of 2019, the Phillies promoted Bohm to Double-A for the final two months of the minor league season. 

While there, Bohm showed why the Phillies took him third overall in 2019, smashing 14 home runs in 63 games, with an OPS of .844. In total, Bohm hit 21 home runs across three levels while posting an OPS of .896. Following his success last season, he came into spring training as the Phillies’ top prospect, with an outside shot of making the opening day roster.

Spring Training:

Besides Bohm and pitcher Spencer Howard, the Phillies have a somewhat weak farm system. Therefore, lots of eyes have been on Bohm with hopes he can be a solid player for the Phillies. That said, it was unknown (and still is unknown) if he would be promoted for opening day. 

However, through two weeks of spring training, Bohm has made it very tough for the Phillies to send him down the minors. In 21 at-bats, Bohm has nine hits for a .429 average, along with three RBIs, and only two strikeouts, for an .887 OPS. Bohm doesn’t bring much to the table in terms of speed. However, his defense and power make him a super-intriguing prospect.  

What Bohm making the team means for the Phillies:

If Alec Bohm does make the opening day team, it will do him no good to not have him be an everyday starter, at least at the start of the season. With Didi Gregorius signing with Philly, Jean Segura was expected to move to second, pushing Scott Kingery to third base. Kingery played well in 2019, and also deserves to play every day. 

The most likely move in this scenario would be to move Kingery to center field. Adam Haseley currently projects to be the opening day center fielder, but he is very inexperienced. Additionally, Haseley hasn’t hit well in spring training, with just three hits in 18 spring training at-bats. Kingery has been a utilityman for the Phillies the past two seasons and has experience playing center field. 

If Bohm continues to play at a high level, there’s no reason for the Phillies not to have him on the opening day roster. Give this top prospect the chance to play, and if he struggles, he can always be sent to the minors.  

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