Phillies news: Alec Bohm hits 1st career home run vs. Braves
By Matt Rappa
Top Phillies prospect Alec Bohm launched his first career home run against the Braves on Sunday
The National League East-worst Philadelphia Phillies have lost five straight games and six of their last 10. In Sunday evening’s nationally televised series finale against the Atlanta Braves, the Joe Girardi-led team needs a win to prevent being swept against their division rival.
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Top Phillies prospect Alec Bohm helped out in a significant way early on in an attempt to bring that to fruition. With two outs in the top of the second inning, facing Braves starting pitcher Josh Tomlin, Bohm was faced with a 1-1 count. Then, he did something for the first time of his professional career — hit a home run.
On a 77 miles per hour curveball, Bohm launched a no-doubt home run to straightaway center field. His swing produced a 107.6 miles per hour exit velocity and traveled 446 feet — giving the Phillies a 1-0 lead.
https://twitter.com/Phillies/status/1297678793533005825
Entering Sunday’s series finale, Bohm slashed .276/.400/.379 across nine games and 35 plate appearances. And, spanning 29 at-bats, the Omaha, Nebraska, native produced five singles, three doubles, three RBI, six walks and six strikeouts.
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While the start to Bohm’s big-league career at the plate has gone well so far, the same cannot be said for his fielding. Across 23 chances at the hot corner entering Sunday’s game against the Braves, Bohm has already committed three errors for an 87.0 fielding percentage. Also in the 73 1/3 frames, he has logged 10 putouts and as many assists in the field, along with two double plays.
In attempting to fish out Alec Bohm's 1st career HR ball (presumably), this man fished out a SECOND baseball as well.
— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) August 23, 2020
⚾️! pic.twitter.com/wfnLxTmjmU
Bohm’s first-career home run, which splashed into the Braves’ fountain at Truist Park, marked the Phillies’ third-longest homer this season. The Braves sent a worker out to retrieve the ball for the third baseman.
Bohm is among the several Phillies prospects to have debuted this season — among them, also top pitching prospect Spencer Howard and left-handed bullpen arm JoJo Romero. The Wichita State University alumnus’ home run on Sunday was surely the first of many in his career.