Phillies All-Star ready to 'Ring the Bell' in MLB Home Run Derby
First-time All-Star Alec Bohm has tossed his hat in the ring for the Home Run Derby.
Chalk it up as another "first" for Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm. After learning on Wednesday that he'd be representing the Phillies as the starting third baseman for the National League at this year's MLB All-Star Game, the news broke on Friday that he will also participate in the Home Run Derby.
He's the second name confirmed for the popular event. The 2023 AL Rookie of the Year and 2024 MVP hopeful Gunnar Henderson of the Baltimore Orioles was the first to announce his entry.
Phillies All-Star ready to 'Ring the Bell' in MLB Home Run Derby
Bohm has had quite the season manning the hot corner for MLB's best team. Let's be honest, he's a big reason why the Phillies have jumped out to a 57-30 record over halfway through the season. But a home run hitter? He's not the first name that would pop into your head.
The fifth-year player has put up some impressive numbers so far, slashing a healthy .296/.347/.488 while driving in an NL-leading 70 RBI. He has 11 home runs in 85 games, which doesn't exactly scream "home run slugger."
But that's okay — Bohm impacts the ball hard. Line drives won't win you any derby trophies, so the MLB leader in doubles with 28 will just have to tweak his approach for one night to help him put a few over the fence at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
His hardest-hit ball this season is 110.8 mph. He has an improved barrel rate (the ideal combination of exit velocity and launch angle), up to 8.8 percent this year from 5.7 percent last year. His longest home run ball traveled 427 feet, just last week against the Marlins.
We'll see you at the Bohm Run Derby 💪 pic.twitter.com/Z0tOZxiOW5
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) July 5, 2024
According to the MLB communications department, Bohm will become the seventh different Phillies player to participate in the Home Run Derby and will count as the team's eighth overall appearance. He will join Jim Thome (2004), Bobby Abreu (2005), Ryan Howard (2006, 2007, 2009), Chase Utley (2008), Rhys Hoskins (2018) and current teammate Kyle Schwarber (2022) as Phillies Home Run Derby competitors. Abreu in 2005 and Howard in 2006 are the only Phillies to have won the Derby previously.
The 2024 Home Run Derby will take place on July 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET and will air on ESPN.
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