There’s always been this thought, shapeless and unformed, floating like a cloud above the Phillies. That maybe, just maybe, third baseman Alec Bohm might be better moving the 127 feet, 3 3/8 inches diagonally across the diamond to play first.
After lying dormant, the idea began buzzing at the edges of the organization’s consciousness this spring when first baseman Rhys Hoskins was lost for the season after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament. Don’t worry, Bohm was told. You’re still the third baseman. Darick Hall will play first.
The sun rose and set a few times before Hall was lost with a torn ligament in his right thumb. Don’t worry, Bohn was told again. You may make a few starts at third but only when the Phillies are facing a lefthander and we want to get another righthanded bat in the lineup by playing Edmundo Sosa at third.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Philadelphia sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
The statute of limitations ran out on that Sunday at Citizens Bank Park when manager Rob Thomson posted a lineup with Sosa at third and Bohn at first against Cincinnati righthander Connor Overton.
It hasn’t seemed to bother Bohm much. His two-run homer off Overton in the fourth stood to be the game winner until Cincinnati came back to score three in the top of the ninth for a 6-4 comeback win.
It was his second homer of the season, which is a good sign for a team that needs somebody to pick up the power slack with Hoskins out and Bryce Harper on the injured list. In 2022, Bohm didn’t hit his second homer until his 18th game.
“Small sample size,” Bohm said. “Hit some balls hard, hit some balls not hard. It’s just kind of baseball.”
MLB
He was even less interested in talking about the fact that he’s playing first base more than anybody could have anticipated. “I don’t care,” he said. “We’re trying to put the best team on the field every day.”
On Saturday, manager Rob Thomson said the only reason Bohm was at first was to get Sosa in the lineup. Before Sunday’s game, he explained his change in thinking about the match-up based on how well Sosa (.353) has been swinging the bat.
In fact, he said he believes Sosa is capable of playing five or six times a week.
“It doesn’t mean he’s going to play every every day,” Thomson clarified. “But we’re going to see what he can do against righthanded pitching. He’s that talented. We’ll see, because we’re going to get him some more playing time. His offense is improving. He’s not chasing as much, he’s staying on breaking balls, he’s stronger than he was last year. He’s a great kid, great teammate. I really love him. He gives you energy every day.”
Until further notice, then, it sounds like Bohm will need to keep his first baseman’s glove handy. Of course, he’s already learned how quickly plans can change.