Phillies promote Alec Bohm to Double-A
2018 first-round pick Alec Bohm heads to Double-A just 52 days after being promoted to Clearwater. (Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire)
One of the Phillies’ weaknesses this season has been production from the hot corner. Maikel Franco got off to a hot start, hitting .294 over the team’s first 10 games with four home runs. It looked like he might have finally found comfort in the eight hole in the lineup. That didn’t hold up, though, and now Franco is almost unplayable. The 26-year-old is slashing .206/.276/.372 on the year, so the Phillies have had to play Sean Rodriguez and Scott Kingery at third with Franco struggling.
There may be some reinforcements to look forward to in the form of Phillies top prospect, Alec Bohm. Selected in the first round of the 2018 MLB Draft by the Phils, Bohm has quickly risen through the organization. Bohm began the 2019 season with Class ‘A’ Lakewood and played 22 games there, hitting .367 in 79 at-bats. On April 30, Bohm was promoted to Advanced ‘A’ Clearwater and after 40 games there, his performance has warranted another promotion, this time to Double-A Reading.
“When they moved me up, they told me it’s the same game, don’t change anything,” Bohm told MiLB.com in May. “Don’t try to change what you’re doing, change your approach, any of that. Just be who you are.”
During his time in Clearwater, Bohm slashed .329/.395/.506 with 10 doubles, three triples, four home runs and 27 RBIs. His plate discipline was also really good, walking (17) nearly as many times as he struck out (21). Over his last 10 games, Bohm is hitting .351 with eight runs scores, eight RBIs, six walks and two strikeouts.
The 22-year-old out of Wichita State will likely make his Double-A debut with Reading on the road in Portland this weekend. His first home game in Reading will be on Thursday, June 27 at 7:10 p.m. against the Portland Sea Dogs.
