Mar 27, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm celebrates after scoring a run during the tenth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images Reggie Hildred
WASHINGTON — Prior to Thursday, the last time that Alec Bohm had spoken following a meaningful game came after the Phillies were eliminated by the New York Mets in the NLDS.
Bohm — who had been taken out of the starting lineup in Game 2 and recorded just one hit in 13 at-bats in the series — was asked whether he felt like he was at a crossroads with the Phillies.
"No, I know where I'll be next year," Bohm said confidently.
Alec Bohm on if he’s at a crossroads: “No, I know where I’ll be next year.” @OnPattison @PhilliesNation pic.twitter.com/MzCAMAf9a8
Early in the offseason, it looked like Bohm's answer may land him on old takes exposed. But while there appeared to be a real possibility Bohm would be traded in November and December, trade rumors subsided once the New Year came and the Phillies held onto the former All-Star.
Bohm rewarded the Phillies for holding onto him on Opening Day with a two-out double in the 10th inning that brought home a pair of runs:
Get the RBI machine goin' pic.twitter.com/0HWq1vi8GE
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) March 27, 2025
When Brandon Marsh struck out and Trea Turner hit a weak pop up back to Washington reliever Colin Poche, the Phillies seemed at risk of wasting the zombie runner in the top of the 10th inning. Instead, Bohm's double not only gave the Phillies a 5-3 lead, but it kept the inning alive. Before the frame was out, J.T. Realmuto tripled into the right-field corner, adding a pair of insurance runs in the form of Bohm and Kyle Schwarber.
After the game, Bohm was asked how good it felt to come through in that moment.
"Good," Bohm said. "It's always good to win a game."
OK, but specifically after an offseason of uncertainty, what does it mean to Bohm to still be with the Phillies?
"It's not very often that you get to play three, four seasons in a row with the same group in professional sports like this," Bohm said. "So it's nice to be back here, back where I'm comfortable and familiar."
Bohm's two most noteworthy teammates were longer winded in singing his praises.
Bryce Harper — who got the scoring started for the Phillies with a seventh-inning home run — didn't question the validity of the offseason trade rumors surrounding Bohm. But he seems happy to still have the 28-year-old in the fold.
"Yeah, I mean obviously they were real," Harper said. "He had a possibility of going somewhere else.
"A lot of guys in here, including myself, we love that kid over there," Harper added of Bohm. "He plays the game and plays it hard and understands what it takes, man. He just needs to not put pressure on himself too much, have fun, enjoy what he does. What a big at-bat for him to come through right there."
Bryce Harper on Alec Bohm: “A lot of guys in here, including myself, we love that kid over there.”
(Via @TimKellySports) pic.twitter.com/Es85QmoiHY
Zack Wheeler — who struck out eight batters and limited the Nationals to two hits and one run over six innings Thursday — echoed the sentiments of Harper.
"Credit to him," Wheeler said of Bohm. "I've been through those also where your name gets out there a good bit and you think you're gone. And he's here with us, he's our third baseman. He's a really good hitter. He's become a really good fielder. I'm happy to have him and he's a competitor and I'm just glad he's with us."
The Phillies will play 161 more games this regular season. If Thursday was a peak, there will inevitably be some valleys for Bohm over the next six months. That's baseball. How he responds to some of the lulls will determine his future with the team. But Thursday was a reminder of what he brings when things are going right.
