It's no secret that the Philadelphia Phillies' lineup can pack a punch. With big names such as Bryce Harper, Trea Turner, and Kyle Schwarber, the team can put up runs if the offense is clicking. However, it's also no secret that players go through slumps. When the big-money stars are not hitting, it's up to ancillary pieces to step up and make an impact.
One of those players who could step up in 2024 is third baseman Alec Bohm. The club's 2018 first-round pick had a solid season at the plate in 2023, and it's not farfetched to think that he could capitalize on that this season.
Last season, Bohm had a career-high in home runs and RBI while lowering his strikeout rate to the lowest it has been in his short major league journey. Due to that, he won his arbitration hearing and was awarded $4 million for the upcoming season. The Phillies will hope that he builds on that heading into 2024.
Alec Bohm's early spring success
In the early parts of spring training, Bohm has been on a tear. It's easy to overreact to a player's spring production, but sometimes it could imply that offseason improvements are working. So far through four games and 10 plate appearances, Bohm is hitting .556 with a home run and three RBI.
Bohm runs are back in action 👀 pic.twitter.com/qEWDdvTnWa
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) February 28, 2024
Again, it is spring training and a very small sample size. Those numbers are unsustainable, but if the 27-year-old can build on this early performance, the Phillies' lineup can be more potent than in years past.
How would a big year for Alec Bohm impact the lineup?
Early preseason projections predict that Bohm will have a season similar to 2023. If that were to be the case, the Phillies would be no worse than last season. However, if he can improve on his numbers from last season, the team's offense will get a huge boost.
The positives from last season and this spring indicate that the third baseman might still improve. First, he has lowered his strikeout rate each year since 2021. Last season, his 15.4 percent strikeout percentage was well below the league average, so he's gaining better knowledge of the strike zone and is putting more balls in play as he matures.
Bohm will turn 28 in August. At this point, he should be in his prime years. Given the increase in his power and run-producing numbers over the last two seasons, he could be learning how to drive the ball more effectively.
With the departure of Rhys Hoskins this offseason, the Phillies will need to replace some of the home runs he added to the lineup. Bohm can be part of that fix. If he can have a big power season, he can help bridge that gap that the lineup could be missing.
Home runs will not be the only indication of a big season for the Phillies' third baseman. This lineup will hit home runs. Putting the ball in play, making contact, and lowering the team's chase rate are things the club announced they wanted to improve at the end of last season. Bohm has increased his contact rate over the last two seasons.
It's likely that Bohm will never be the superstar that some of his teammates are, but he can still have huge implications for the club's success. If he can continue to improve his power and keep putting the ball in play, he can be a key piece for this lineup in 2024. That is what the Phillies expected when they drafted him, and a big season will only help improve the club's chances at another deep postseason run.