You look around the NL East, and both the Braves and Nationals have won World Series recently behind phenoms in Ronald Acuna Jr. and Juan Soto.
There’s also Vladimir Guerrero in Toronto and the much-anticipated debut of Bobby Witt Jr. in Kansas City.
And the Phillies have Alec Bohmkingerybrown.
That, of course, is Alec Bohm, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 draft, who came up with much fanfare in the COVID-shortened 2020 season, and hit .338 in 44 games.
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But instead of becoming the next young MLB star, Bohm seems more destined to become the latest Phillies phenom to disappoint, joining the likes of Scott Kingery, who’s in the minors and not even on the 40-man roster, and Domonic Brown from a decade ago.
Yet through six games this season, a small sample size to be sure, Bohm has more standing ovations (3) than home runs (0) or RBIs (1).
The source of the ovations, of course, was Bohm accepting responsibility for getting caught on camera Monday night mouthing the words, “I f—ing hate this place” upon receiving sarcastic cheers for making a routine play.
That came after Bohm committed three errors at third base in the first three innings.
To Bohm’s credit, he stood up and admitted saying it, adding that it came in a fit of frustration, that he loves the fans.
Bohm was rewarded the next night by getting a standing ovation when he pinch hit in the eighth inning. He grounded out.
He got two more on Wednesday in the Phillies’ 9-6 loss to the Mets.
The first came when he ran for Jean Segura in the sixth inning after Segura was hit by a pitch and left the game. The second came when he batted in the seventh and hit a sacrifice fly, cutting the Phillies’ deficit to 8-5.
The ovations are all well and good, but the underlying issue is that Bohm hasn’t started a game since Monday. And it doesn’t seem like that will change drastically any time soon.
In fact, Phillies manager Joe Girardi put Bohm in at first base rather than third, choosing to move around two infielders – Bryson Stott from third to second, and Johan Camargo, who was giving Rhys Hoskins a day off, from first to third.
“Sometimes it’s best to put a player right back in the situation,” Girardi said. “Sometimes it’s best to give him a little time and let him work. He’s playing really well. He’s swinging the bat extremely well. We’re going to get him back out there.”
The question is when.
The Phillies clearly want Stott playing every day. Stott, after all, is also a phenom, the Phillies’ first-round pick in 2019 (14th overall).
He hit his way onto the team in spring training, and he’s a much better fielder.
On Wednesday, Stott went 2-for-4, with both hits coming off Mets ace Max Scherzer. He also drove in 2 runs.
“He threw me some pitches that I can hit,” Stott said. “I kind of hit that jailbreak changeup down the line (for a single in the second inning). I got him down, and did what I wanted.”
Girardi noticed this as well.
“He’s swung the bat really well for the last year and a half,” Girardi said, referring to Stott’s climb through the minor leagues. “And he’s continuing to do it.”
Bohm’s fielding has always been an issue. And Bohm isn’t going serve as the designated hitter over proven sluggers in Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos and Hoskins.
And, for now, it’s hard to see him playing over Stott.
That’s the case even if Segura’s hand injury keeps him out for a while, although Girardi said after the game that Segura might be day-to-day.
Hoskins, at least, will return to first base when the Phillies open a four-game trip against the Marlins. Stott will play second base if Segura is out, with either Bohm or Camargo playing third.
If Segura is back, chances are Stott will be at third.
Stott showed why after the Phillies missed a great chance to get on the board in the first inning against Scherzer. The Mets’ $130 million ace walked the bases loaded with one out. Segura struck out and Didi Gregorius grounded out to end the inning.
You only get so many chances against Scherzer, who threw 29 pitches in the first inning.
That came back to haunt the Phillies after starter Aaron Nola imploded in the fourth inning, allowing a single, double, a walk and two hit batters, putting the Phillies in a 3-0 hole.
The Phillies had their second chance against Scherzer in the bottom half, with runners on second and third and no one out. Scherzer struck out the next two batters, bringing up Stott.
Stott turned around a 97 mph fastball on a 2-2 count and lined it into center field for a run-scoring single. Just like that, the Phillies were within 3-1.
It was a big-time at-bat from a player who should get plenty of them – at the expense of Bohm.
But Alonso continued his barrage against Phillies pitching, hitting a three-run homer in the sixth off Connor Brogdon to give the Mets an 8-1 lead. That was Alonso’s third extra-base hit of the game, with 5 total RBIs.
Stott drove in the Phillies’ second run with a groundout, battling back from an 0-2 count to put the ball in play.
It’s hard to believe that it’s still just his first full week in the big leagues.
“It’s a lot more than I expected,” Stott said. “Once you finally get out there, and you’re going, and you’re playing, you know you’re in the big leagues. It’s been incredible. It’s been awesome.
“It’s more than I’ve ever dreamed of. I’m having tons of fun.”
It was supposed to be this way for Bohm, too. Whether he really “(expletive) hates this place” or not, it’ll take more than standing ovations to change that.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
