Phillies: This is the perfect lineup for the 2021 season
By Matt Rappa
5. Alec Bohm, 3B (R)
The player in the Phillies everyday lineup that benefits the most from both J.T. Realmuto and Didi Gregorius being back is third baseman Alec Bohm. Imagine the added pressure Bohm would have to perform offensively, if say the Phillies instead had Andrew Knapp catching and Kyle Holder or C.J. Chatham receiving plate appearances as the shortstop.
Bohm quietly had a very impressive rookie year in 2020, and finished tied for second in the Rookie of the Year Award race. Spanning 44 games and 180 plate appearances, the former third overall pick from the 2018 draft slashed .338/.400/.481 with 11 doubles, four home runs, 23 RBI, 16 walks, and just 36 strikeouts.
Bohm batted more often than not in either the seventh or eighth spot in the 2020 lineup, but a “promotion” is well-deserved for him to hit higher up. A strong showing from Bohm in 2021 could significantly increase the club’s chances to contend for the postseason. Bohm had four plate appearances batting fifth last year, and collected a single and double, along with a walk and RBI.
In a recent interview, Bohm said one of the things he learned from his rookie season — “a small taste of just a couple of months up there” — is that “it’s a long year.” He said that he has a lot of work to do still, and that his priority this offseason was to focus on getting his legs strong.
“Over the course of a 162-game season, that will be the first thing to go,” Bohm said. “[I will] just take care of everything in the weight room and get back into some baseball stuff. Before I know it, spring training is going to be rolling around and we will get back to business.”
Bohm had the right mindset for a rookie heading into year two. Time will tell if that will translate into the stats columns.