Alec Bohm is entering a contract year in 2026 with the Philadelphia Phillies. In the midst of a second consecutive winter with his name in trade rumors, it appears as of now that he will remain with the franchise at the start of the regular season.
Typically, players exceed expectations during seasons in which they are playing for new contracts. Bohm appears unlikely to sign an extension with the Phillies as there has been no indication that the team wants to re-sign him to a multi-year extension. Bohm looks to be entering his final year with Philadelphia, considering top infield prospect Aidan Miller possibly being ready to make his MLB debut by the end of the 2026 season.
Will Bohm return to the success he displayed during the 2023 and 2024 seasons? His struggles last year should have Phillies fans exercising some caution before predicting a potential career season for the 29-year-old infielder.
Can Phillies' Alec Bohm replicate his success from 2023-2024 in a contract year?
Bohm posted a career high of 97 RBIs in 2023 and 2024. However, he finished with only 59 RBIs last year while slashing .287/.331/.409 with a .740 OPS. He also totaled only 18 doubles, which were significantly less than his 31 in 2023 and his career-best 44 in 2024.
The Omaha, Nebraska, native dealt with a left rib fracture in mid-July and left shoulder inflammation in September. His injuries limited him to 120 games, his fewest since 2021. During the MLB Winter Meetings, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski expressed optimism that Bohm will return to the form of two to three seasons ago in 2026, per MLB.com's Todd Zolecki.
"I think Bohm’s going to have a much better year offensively,” Dombrowski said, per Zolecki. “He was hurt last year for a time period. What did he do? Drove in close to 100 runs the two years before that? I think he’s much closer to that type of hitter than he was last year. All of a sudden you put him – that same guy – he’s hitting somewhere, fourth or fifth in your lineup … I think that’s a pretty good addition in itself.”
As Zolecki notes, Phillies manager Rob Thomson batted Bohm third in the club's 2025 Opening Day lineup. However, Thomson moved Bryce Harper into the third spot after only 13 games. The skipper batted Kyle Schwarber fourth behind Harper until the end of June, when the first baseman went on the IL. Schwarber hit second, and Harper batted after him once he returned from the IL.
Bohm didn't produce at the same level offensively for Thomson to consider batting him behind Harper and Schwarber regularly last season.
Considering that he isn't consistent enough offensively, Bohm shouldn't be batting in between Harper and Schwarber. Ideally, he should be hitting fifth or sixth. Of course, Thomson has placed him at multiple spots over the course of a long season, depending on whether the third baseman is in a slump or not.
Thomson could bat Bohm second before Harper and Schwarber. However, would the manager be in favor of batting two right-handed batters in Trea Turner and Bohm, followed by two hitters who bat from the left side in Harper and Schwarber?
Even though Bohm could have more success in what is a contract year for him next season, Thomson shouldn't bother batting Bohm second, third, or fourth with a healthy lineup. The skipper's first three hitters should be Turner-Schwarber-Harper, or swap Harper and Schwarber.
Phillies fans have seen enough of the different batting order ideas from Thomson involving Bohm. He should keep his three best hitters at the top of the lineup to start the season, stick with it as long as the players remain healthy, and not complicate things too much. Bohm should be in the middle of the lineup as he hasn't demonstrated enough consistency in his career offensively to be hitting among the first three batters in the Phillies batting order.