Philly Leader

Alec Bohm, a third baseman for the Philadelphia Phillies, is facing challenges at the start of the 2025 season. Entering Thursday's game at Truist Park against the Atlanta Braves, Bohm was hitting just .178 with no home runs, three RBIs, and a .396 OPS. In an effort to alleviate the pressure, Phillies manager Rob Thomson adjusted the lineup, moving Bohm to the seventh spot for the first time since July 2023.

“I’m just trying to take a little heat off Bohmer,” Thomson said. Bohm's recent performance highlighted his frustration; he struck out four times in a game on Wednesday, a rare event for him. His struggles are apparent despite having notable average exit velocity and hard-hit rate stats.

Bohm's overall performance showed potential with an average exit velocity of 93.1 mph and 51.4% hard-hit rate. Yet, only four of the 13 balls he hit at 100 mph or harder resulted in hits, far below the .612 batting average for such hits recorded by Statcast since 2015.

Bohm's challenges are under scrutiny, especially after his performance dip last season and the offseason trade rumors. Despite external criticism, Thomson maintains faith in Bohm. "Everybody gets frustrated," Thomson remarked. He compared the situation to outfielder Nick Castellanos' slump the previous season, whom he supported despite early struggles, leading to a strong finish later in the year.

Thomson's confidence remains, stating, “I’m not going to pull the chute on him yet, despite what everybody says.” Bohm is known for his success at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where he has historically performed well. Thomson and the team hope for a turnaround this weekend.