The Phillies top prospect is movin’ on up in the system.
Alec Bohm, the Phillies top prospect and 2018 first round pick, has been promoted to High-A Clearwater after just 22 games with Single-A Lakewood.
In those first 22 games, Bohm was hitting a team-high .367 with three home runs, 11 RBI, and 12 walks. Bohm’s hot bat followed him down to Clearwater for his debut, starting the game 2-4 with a walk.
Bohm started the season with some bombs in Lakewood, setting him up for a short stint with the Phillies’ Single-A affiliate. There’s a possibility the former Wichita State product plays as high as Double-A Reading this season depending on how he hits in sunny Clearwater.
Rated as MLB Pipeline’s 56th overall prospect, Bohm came out of college with an advanced approach at the plate and the potential to hit for power early in his career.
Despite Maikel Franco’s success this season there’s a good chance Bohm is the third baseman of the future. Bohm is still at least two years away, maybe three, but the organization drafted him with the mindset of keeping him over at third base.
Franco has been coveted by teams around the league, but we’re still a ways away before dealing Franco to make way for Bohm.
Even if Franco, who turns 27 in August, finally breaks out and hits 30 home runs on a consistent basis I’m not sure the Phillies would be willing to deal Bohm for a veteran player down the road.
While Bohm will be coveted by other teams, especially if the Phillies look for a young starting pitcher, the current front office and scouting department have their names all over Bohm. They’re the ones who picked him and said ‘we believe this guy is the next franchise third baseman,’ something the Phillies truly haven’t had since Scott Rolen.
Again, we’re several years away from a Franco/Bohm clash, but it’s something to keep in mind should Bohm reach Double-A this year and his power continues to bloom.