The Philadelphia Phillies are entering a crucial season. After coming up short of returning to the World Series the last two years, this may be the last chance the club has to win the Fall Classic with their current core of players.
The club also needs some luck to win a World Series, and to not go into a slump offensively during the postseason. The offense disappeared in Games 6 and 7 of the 2023 NLCS versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. History repeated itself last year when the Phillies didn't generate offense in three of the four contests in the NLDS against the New York Mets.
3 big Phillies X-factors heading into Opening Day that could make or break the season
Despite the talent on the roster, many X-factors will determine how the Phillies' 2025 season goes. The regular season is a six-month marathon followed by the playoffs. Philadelphia hopes to come out on top with a championship. Here are some X-factors that could make or break their season.
X-factor No. 1: Alec Bohm's performance following an offseason of trade rumors
Alec Bohm started the 2024 regular season as one of the league's top players. He totaled 30 RBI and 12 doubles in 31 games during the first month of the year and had a fantastic 1.036 OPS at the start of May.
His great start helped Bohm earn his first All-Star Game nomination. Bohm performed decently overall for the remainder of the spring and summer but sustained a hand injury at the end of August. After he returned to the club off of the IL in mid-September, he was not the same player. He had a .170/.204/.298 line with a .502 OPS entering the postseason.
His season spiraled further during the NLDS. Manager Rob Thomson did not start Bohm in Game 2 following his underwhelming Game 1. In four contests, the third baseman went 1-for-13.
Bohm made some bad plays defensively and exhibited bad body language again. The infielder has a history of displaying his frustrations, most notably at the beginning of the 2022 season when he made multiple errors during a game. He clearly expressed his frustrations about being booed by the Citizens Bank Park crowd. The third baseman later apologized for his remarks, and Phillies fans embraced him in return.
The 28-year-old's name popped up in trade rumors over the offseason. Bohm will be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season. He will likely sign a lucrative, multi-year contract if his current deal expires. However, that won't be for a couple of seasons.
We know that Bohm will be a Phillie during the 2025 season. He hit well in spring training, with a .356 batting average and a 1.022 OPS. The former third overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2018 MLB Draft finished with three home runs and seven RBI in 45 at-bats.
He's capable of contributing to the team's success. However, how will Bohm respond when he struggles? Will he be able to grind through his slumps, or will the third baseman exhibit his bad body language again, not helping himself in the process?