Alec Bohm is here and he will play.
The Phillies called on Bohm, their very offensive perspective, not to get a few bats here and there. He will be a regular in the lineup, Phillies GM Matt Klentak said Thursday shortly after Bohm was added to the roster.
Bohm will primarily play third base, where he was on Thursday in his debut against the Orioles. As Bohm sits on third, it will move Jean Segura to second base, where he played last season. Scott Kingery will once again be an outfielder. Kingery could see some time in center field with Adam Haseley (wrist sprain) placed on the 10-day IL Thursday. That was the corresponding move to make room for Bohm on the active roster.
“The plan is that he will play regularly,” Klentak said. “That’s been the case for a while now. If we’ll call a player like Alec, we want him to play every day. With Adam Haseley going to IL today, that opens up some regular reps for us. Of course, it will to Joe (Girardi) to write the lineup every day.But I think what you’ll see today is pretty indicative of what the next week or so will look like.Alec will play quite a bit on third.Segura will pass and some second play.
“Kingery will now help us in a variety of different places, but remarkably he may be able to take down some reps in the center field. … We still consider Scott a daily player. Or that is now on a second basis as a different position , but at this point, seeing his offensive tackle, given Bohm emerging, and seeing the need for an extra capable defender in midfield, I think this now makes sense for the team.
“We want Alec to play regularly. We think he’s that kind of player. It really emphasizes the importance of guys like Segura and Kingery who can play multiple positions. You could have an injury to a left – handed outfielder and a call. do the right thing and get the pieces done. “
Bohm can also play first base. With the battle at the start of the season for Rhys Hoskins, Kingery and Segura, there are multiple lineup combinations that include Bohm that could perhaps give the Phillies a boost.
Hoskins, Kingery and Segura have hit a combined .165 this season (20 for 121). Their lack of offense is the main reason Bohm is here now. The infield extra bat certainly puts some pressure on Hoskins and Kingery to execute. Teams do not have time to wait any longer in a 60-game season. Friday will be the quarterfinals of the season.
Hoskins hit .190 this season with one RBI. He has not homered in his last 109 record appearances dating back to last season. The walks are nice and the source of his .404 on-base percentage, but the Phillies need Hoskins to do more than run. They need him to rise to power. And they need Kingery to pick up fastballs. Against fastballs 93 mph or faster this season, Kingery is 0 for 9 and has swung and missed more than one-third of the time.
Hoskins and Kingery were both out of Thursday’s lineup. Neil Walker started at first base with Segura in second place.
“He’s a hitter,” Klentak of Bohm said. “We think he can help our line-up. Our line-up so far – and I’m aware that we’re only 13 games and even those 13 games have been somewhat unlocked – has had several players really get off to a fast start from the start. and others who are struggling. Adding another quality benefit to that mix can only help us. That’s the way we see it. “
Bohm ends up making his debut before he ever played a game at Triple A. Had there been a minor season, it’s where he would have opened.
“This man has done everything he can to put in the box of the bat at the minor level,” Klentak said. “It’s not his fault that there was no official Triple A season this year. But he’s done everything he can. He’s worked really hard on his defense. That’s a long way for him to get into it. last year and a half.In addition to that, he also added the versatility to the ability to glide to the first base, which we will not see tonight, but we could see that at the moment this year as well.
“Like everything, we think he deserves it. Now that our roster allows him to come up and play every day, we think it’s a good opportunity for him.”
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