The rumor mill churned all offseason after the Philadelphia Phillies lost out of last season's playoffs. A once revered club fell victim to speculation if this roster was the right one to guide them to victory. Talks of changing the team and other knee-jerk reactions were front and center after the Phillies came up short in the NLDS.
The lineup showed its holes and ultimately led to their downfall against the New York Mets. The offense was the immediate question, with so much talent throughout the lineup and so little to show for it when it mattered most.
An early hot-seat contestant was Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm. Questions flew, asking if his head was in the right space to continue as the franchise's third baseman. After recent reports from spring training, Bohm appears ready to put it all behind him.
Alec Bohm's new attitude is exactly what the Phillies need from him
Uncertainty is what most felt about Bohm coming into camp. His decline in play and apparent loss of focus spiraled into offseason trade rumors. Bohm was never dealt and when he showed up to camp, according to Phillies manager Rob Thomson, he seemingly looked better than ever, per Bailey Digh of Phillies Nation.
“They said he’s so positive he seems like a different guy, like he’s grown up again,” Thomson said, per Digh. “He’s grown up so much since we first brought him to the big leagues. Now, it looks like he’s taken another step. So I’m really excited to see what he can do.”
Bohm started 2024 out hot, representing the NL as the starting third baseman in the All-Star game. He ended up finishing the year batting .280 with 15 home runs and 97 RBI. When he started to fade and injured his hand in late August, the criticism only snowballed, per Tim Kelly of OnPattison.com. Bohm has since taken the high road, and it's ultimately the version of Bohm the Phillies need.
Bohm is still a vital piece of their offense and however the lineup shakes out, he could be the team's three-hole hitter for a lot of 2025. The emotional side is part of Bohm's makeup as a player and if he has that in check, he will be a major contributor in the middle of the lineup.
The trade talks could have compounded the problem and left the 28-year-old in an uncertain predicament. Thomson reaching out to Bohm during the offseason regarding trade speculation may have done the trick for Bohm to handle his business and prepare for possibly his most important season yet, per Matt Gelb of The Athletic. A positive Alec Bohm may not solve all the Phillies' issues, but it will allow him to settle in and give him the opportunity to push his game to a new level.