Phillies set to promote top prospect Alec Bohm
According to reports, the Philadelphia Phillies will promote top prospect Alec Bohm.
No minor league season and the flexibility of a 60-man player pool has created opportunities for MLB teams to promote prospects. The Philadelphia Phillies did it with blue chip prospect pitcher Spencer Howard last week, and earlier on Thursday Meghan Montemurro of The Athletic they will promote top prospect third baseman Alec Bohm.
Bohm was taken third overall by the Phillies in the 2018 draft out of Wichita State. He has justified that selection, with a .305/.378/.519 slash-line with 21 home runs, 30 doubles 80 RBI over three levels last year (14 home runs over 270 Double-A plate appearances). Then he blistered Arizona Fall League pitching to the tune of .361/.397/.528 over 78 plate appearances. Baseball America and MLB.com both ranked him as top-30 prospect in all of baseball entering this year.
https://twitter.com/BaseballAmerica/status/1293942141731954689?s=20
Is Alec Bohm ready to make the jump to the bigs?
Bohm has played both corner infield spots thus far a pro, and the universal DH creates some room for him in the Phillies lineup there. Matt Gelb of The Athletic pointed to an injury prompting Bohm’s promotion, and the corresponding move has been announced.
Adam Haseley has been put on the 10-day IL with a left wrist sprain.
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) August 13, 2020
Alec Bohm has officially been called up. He will wear No. 28.
RHP Edgar Garcia has been designated for assignment.
Phillies now have just one CF, Roman Quinn. Wonder if this means more days of Kingery CF, Segura 2B and Bohm 3B. https://t.co/QQnrw8UBuc
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) August 13, 2020
As Gelb noted, the Phillies had to make room on the 28 and 40-man rosters. Bohm is in the lineup Thursday against the Orioles, batting sixth and playing third base.
Bohm is starting at 3B and batting sixth tonight vs. Orioles:
— Meghan Montemurro (@M_Montemurro) August 13, 2020
McCutchen DH
Segura 4
Harper 9
Realmuto 2
Gregorius 6
Bohm 5
Bruce 7
Walker 3
Quinn 8
Arrieta RHP
More broadly, Philadelphia seems to need a spark in the lineup. Rhys Hoskins (zero home runs, .238 slugging percentage entering Thursday) and Scott Kingery (4-for-40 entering Thursday) are both struggling big thus far, and Jean Segura hasn’t been much better (.205 going into Thursday). It’s worth noting that Kingery tested positive for COVID-19, which serves as an explanation for his slow start.
In any case, Bohm was sure to knock on the door of the big leagues at some point this year under normal circumstances. Since any further run he gets at the Phillies’ alternate site won’t be of great benefit, he’ll get his shot now.
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