One of the biggest concerns surrounding the Philadelphia Phillies this season has been the prolonged slump of Alec Bohm. The Phillies’ third baseman is batting only .159 this year and was recently benched because of his struggles at the plate.
During the series finale against the Athletics, Bohm was left out of the starting lineup as Edmundo Sosa got the nod at third base. Sosa, who usually rotates with Bryson Stott in a platoon role, filled in for the struggling veteran.
Alec Bohm’s 2026 Season Off to Miserable Start
The 2026 campaign has been difficult for Bohm both on and off the field. Earlier this season, the Phillies infielder filed a lawsuit against his parents regarding the management of his MLB earnings. Whether that situation has contributed to his struggles on the field remains uncertain.
Bohm opened the year as Philadelphia’s cleanup hitter and occupied that role through the club’s first 10 games. However, after beginning the season just 8-for-39, he was dropped toward the bottom of the batting order. Meanwhile, left fielder Brandon Marsh — who appears to be enjoying a breakout season — took over Bohm’s former spot.
The lineup adjustment has done little to spark improvement. Through 34 games, Bohm owns a .159/.227/.206 slash line with only one home run. According to FanGraphs, his 21 wRC+ ranks as the second-worst mark among qualified hitters. Only Cedric Mullins of the Tampa Bay Rays has been worse at 17.
Much of Bohm’s decline has stemmed from weak contact quality. His average exit velocity of 88.5 MPH, 36.4% hard-hit rate, and tiny 0.9% barrel rate are all on pace to become career lows. Even for a player who typically averages around 14 home runs per 600 plate appearances, those numbers are alarmingly poor.
Statcast’s expected metrics paint a similarly troubling picture. Entering play on May 8, Bohm carried a .216 expected batting average and a .293 expected slugging percentage, placing him in just the ninth and seventh percentiles among MLB hitters.
The timing could hardly be worse. The 29-year-old is set to become a free agent after the season. From 2022 through 2025, Bohm posted a 105 wRC+ and accumulated 8.0 fWAR, ranking 14th and 13th respectively among qualified major league third basemen during that span.
Still, his disastrous 2026 season threatens to significantly damage his value heading into free agency.
On May 8, interim manager Don Mattingly addressed Bohm’s status and shared an update with reporters, including Todd Zolecki of MLB.com. Mattingly said his third baseman would return to the lineup the following day.
Alec Bohm’s Slump Could Create Urgency for Phillies
Philadelphia stumbled out to a brutal 9-19 start this season. During a 10-game losing streak, the organization dismissed manager Rob Thomson and promoted Mattingly to interim manager. Since the leadership change, the Phillies have gone 8-2 and started climbing the National League East standings.
That turnaround has increased the pressure on both Bohm and the organization. Philadelphia entered the year expecting to contend for a division title, and there may come a point when the front office can no longer afford to wait for Bohm to rediscover his form.
If his struggles continue, the Phillies could decide to move on from their longtime third baseman and pursue an upgrade before the trade deadline. That scenario may leave Bohm with only a couple of months to prove he can reverse course. Otherwise, the club could rely more heavily on Sosa or seek outside help to strengthen the lineup.
The Phillies have already demonstrated a willingness to absorb financial losses in order to move on from underperforming players. Earlier this season, the team cut ties with Taijuan Walker after five disastrous starts, eating the remaining $18 million left on his contract. That figure exceeded the $10.2 million Bohm is due to earn in 2026.
Time may already be running short on Bohm’s future in Philadelphia. The only uncertainty is whether his final game with the franchise comes in July or October.