Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said on May 7 that he is giving Alec Bohm “a little day” out of the lineup as the team faces continued challenges with Bohm’s performance at bat.
Bohm, who began the season as Philadelphia’s cleanup hitter, has struggled offensively, currently batting .159 with one home run and a .433 OPS. This marks the second-lowest OPS among qualified players in Major League Baseball and is one of the lowest for any Phillies player through 37 games since 1900. The decision to rest Bohm comes after Mattingly pinch-hit Bryson Stott for him in Wednesday night’s game against Oakland, which was reportedly the first time in Bohm’s career he had been replaced for performance reasons during a game.
Mattingly said, “I’m sure he’s pressing because he wants to do well. Just trying hard, right? For sure. He’s going to hit, and I believe that until the day I’m not on this earth that he’s going to hit. And we’re going to need him to be himself. He’s going to get a lot of big hits for us. You guys are going to forget what happened in May when he’s hitting down the stretch and driving in runs. He’s part of our club. He’s going to be a part of it. And he’s going to hit.” Mattingly also encouraged Bohm not to take batting practice or fielding before Thursday’s game: “He’s been working so hard… encourage him to take a reset day from the standpoint of like, grinding, grinding, grinding. Take a step back and then get back after it.”
Bohm will become a free agent after this season and is involved in an ongoing legal dispute with his parents over alleged financial misconduct; however, he declined comment on personal matters earlier this year.
With Edmundo Sosa starting at third base Thursday night but viewed primarily as a utility player by management, options remain limited if Bohm cannot rebound soon. Top prospect Aidan Miller remains sidelined by injury without an expected return date while Lehigh Valley players Otto Kemp and Carter Kieboom have shown mixed results at Triple-A level.
The Philadelphia Phillies have played home games at Citizens Bank Park since 2004 and represent Philadelphia as charter members of Major League Baseball’s National League under leadership from their front office executives according to the official website.
If improvement does not come from within before August’s trade deadline, Mattingly indicated roster changes may be considered: Stott could move positions if another infielder is acquired.
