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Phillies reportedly promote top prospect Alec Bohm to Single-A Clearwater

Phillies top prospect Alec Bohm has reportedly been promoted to the Clearwater Threshers. (Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)

In his weekly look at the Philadelphia Phillies farm system, Phillies Nation contributor Alec Whitaker wrote yesterday that 2017 first-round pick Alec Bohm “may not stay with Lakewood much longer.” Little did he know how prophetic that statement would prove to be.

According to Jim Peyton of PhuturePhillies.com, Bohm has been promoted from the Class-A Lakewood Blueclaws to the Class-A Advanced Clearwater Threshers. The Phillies have yet to confirm the report.

In 79 at-bats for the Blueclaws, Bohm slashed .367/.441/.595 with three home runs, 11 RBIs and 12 walks. It did appear to only be a matter of time before the Phillies promoted Bohm – who, after Sixto Sanchez was traded in the J.T. Realmuto trade, is seen as the organization’s No. 1 overall prospect.

The Phillies selected Bohm, a former Wichita State Shocker, with the No. 3 overall pick in last June’s MLB Draft. Now 22, Bohm slashed .252/.335/.324 with 17 RBIs and 12 walks in 139 at-bats between the New York Penn League and the Gulf Coast League in 2018.

MLB Pipeline ranked Bohm as the No. 56 overall prospect in baseball ahead of the 2019 season. While virtually all scouting reports are bullish on how Bohm’s hitting tools will translate to the major leagues, it’s unclear if he’ll remain at third base; “While Bohm has worked on his defense at third, the jury is still out about whether he will be able to stay there.”

MLB Pipeline estimates that Bohm will reach the major league level during the 2021 season. The current MLB collective bargaining agreement is set to expire at the conclusion of the 2021 season. There’s a belief from some in the sport that a new collective bargaining agreement will include a universal DH. If so, Bohm could potentially be a fit there at some point. Of course, so too could Rhys Hoskins or Bryce Harper. From here, the possibility also exists that Hoskins will become a DH and the Phillies experiment with Bohm at first base if he doesn’t develop defensively at the hot corner.