The Philadelphia Phillies did their best to keep third baseman Alec Bohm from going on the injured list, but eventually had to admit defeat.
Out of the lineup since leaving the Phillies' Aug. 29 game against the Atlanta Braves, Bohm has been dealing with a sore left hand after an awkward first-inning swing. Initial X-rays were negative, and the Phillies thought it would be a matter of days before they got their corner infielder back.
Phillies finally admit defeat and lose Alec Bohm to IL with hand injury
But on Friday, ahead of their game with the Miami Marlins, the Phillies officially placed Bohm on the 10-day IL with a left hand strain, retroactive to Sept. 3.
Prior to tonight’s game against the Miami Marlins, the Phillies placed INF Alec Bohm on the 10-day injured list (retro to 9/3) with a left hand strain. To fill his spot on the 28-man roster, the club recalled INF Buddy Kennedy from Lehigh Valley (AAA).
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) September 6, 2024
Bohm missed six games, and despite the Phillies being hopeful that he would be able to return before the end of the current road trip, things didn't progress as well as they initially thought.
“It's just like one spot he gets to where he starts rolling his hand over that he can feel it,” manager Rob Thomson explained about the problems Bohm was having with his swing earlier this week, per MLB.com. “It feels a little bit better every day, but it really hasn't progressed as quickly as we originally thought. … He's gonna have to have a day of BP and cage work and stuff like that. So once he does that and comes out of that, there's a good chance he gets into the game.”
Now ineligible to return from the IL until at least Sept. 13, Bohm can rest and recover without the pressure of knowing the Phillies are waiting for him each and every game.
Buddy Kennedy back with the Phillies
In the corresponding roster move, the Phillies are recalling infielder Buddy Kennedy, 25, from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to take Bohm's spot on the 26-man roster.
After being acquired from the Detroit Tigers earlier in the season, Kennedy got a brief call-up on Aug. 26 for a couple of games before being optioned back to the IronPigs on Aug. 28. He didn't appear in a game in that time but has more than earned his chance in the big leagues with the Phillies after the season he has put together since joining the organization.
In 63 games with the IronPigs, Kennedy is batting .295/.397/.513 with 10 home runs, 32 RBI and two stolen bases. Most of his time in the field has been at third base since coming to the Phillies organization, with 54 games at the hot corner. He has also seen limited action at second, short and in left field.