It was always unlikely that Alec Bohm, the Phillies’ All-Star third baseman, would be playing for another team this spring. Despite a flood of trade rumors over the offseason, there was never any strong indication that team president Dave Dombrowski was seriously close to dealing the 28-year-old infielder. While the Phillies were reportedly open to listening to offers, it would have taken the right package for Dombrowski to actually move on from a player they selected third overall in the 2018 MLB Draft and developed into one of the league’s better offensive third basemen.
Bohm’s presence in camp seems to have put an end to trade speculation, and his performance in Sunday’s 5-4 exhibition win over the Orioles was a reminder of his talent. The third baseman starred in the victory, launching two opposite-field home runs in Clearwater’s sunny conditions, a promising sign after a rough finish to his 2024 campaign.
Spring training statistics aren’t always meaningful, but in Bohm’s case, they could offer a small glimpse into his mindset. So far, he has played in four games and has three hits, including the two solo homers. His performance might not guarantee another All-Star season, but it suggests he has moved past the struggles that led to his benching in Game 2 of last year’s NLDS. Manager Rob Thomson had cited Bohm’s negative energy stemming from his offensive woes as the reason for sitting him.
Before his late-season collapse, Bohm was in the midst of a career year. From Opening Day through August 20, he hit.298 with a.352 on-base percentage and an.830 OPS. He also led the league with 43 doubles while adding 13 home runs in 123 games. But then his production cratered.
Between August 21-29, Bohm hit just.161 (5-for-31) before a wrist injury sidelined him for the first half of September. When he returned, he struggled even more, hitting.170 (8-for-47) with a.502 OPS over his final 12 games. His struggles carried into the postseason, significantly diminishing his stock.
Was it fair for his value to drop so drastically based on just 20 regular-season games? Maybe not. But that’s the reality of professional sports.
While Sunday’s performance doesn’t necessarily signal a return to All-Star form, it does indicate that Bohm has put a difficult offseason behind him. The Phillies are hoping he can build on this early momentum and regain the consistency that made him such a key part of their lineup for most of last season.
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