Philadelphia Phillies: Are we expecting too much of Alec Bohm in 2021?

After an absolutely spectacular debut season with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2020, expectations for Alec Bohm are seemingly through the roof. And for what it’s worth, they should be. The rookie third baseman slashed .338/.400/.481 over the course of 180 plate appearances, finishing the year as a “Rookie of the Year” finalist in the National League.

While Bohm’s first year in the pros was everything that fans could have dreamed of and then some, there begs the question of if people are expecting too much from the young infielder this early on in his career.

After all, “sophomore slumps” are not uncommon when it comes to professional sports, and they are particularly common when it comes to the MLB. Pitchers start to figure out what works and what doesn’t work against opposing batters, leading them to have to reevaluate when it comes to to their approach at the plate.

The Mets’ Pete Alonso is a perfect example of this phenomena. He went from hitting an MLB-leading 53 home runs in 2019 with a .941 OPS, to batting just .231 with an .817 OPS this past season in 2020. Opposing teams adjusted to his style of swing, really neutralizing his offensive output last summer.

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However, when it comes to Bohm and what he projects to accomplish in 2021, all of the hype is very much warranted.

Lofty expectations for Philadelphia Phillies 3B Alec Bohm in 2021?

For starters, the situation surrounding Bohm’s debut was not ideal in the slightest. He was awkwardly called up a few weeks into the season, and then immediately thrusted into a situation where he was expected to be a reliable piece on a playoff-contending squad. Bohm didn’t falter or stutter, he simply entered the lineup and immediately started producing runs.

Bohm’s ability to produce while under immense amounts of pressure was specifically impressive. He had multiple walk-offs, and led the MLB in “batting average with RISP” for the majority of the 2020 season. Poise like that is normally a good sign that a player possess some level of specialness to him.

Bohm also finished 2020 with the fourth highest WPA (win probability added), ranking above the likes of Juan Soto, Ronald Acuna Jr., Mike Trout, and even Mookie Betts.

While Bohm’s defense is definitely worth some level of concern, Alec has all the makings of someone who can improve at this facet of play over the years. He’s a 6-5 athlete who moves pretty well for his size. It’s not like he’s an overweight slugger destined for a role as a first baseman/DH.

Ultimately speaking, the expectation that Bohm might end up in the mix for an All-Star appearance seems fairly reasonable. While I wouldn’t go as far as to say that he’ll land a nomination, this is still a guy who was on the All-MLB Team ballot as a rookie.

Throw in the fact that Bohm will continue to be afforded the luxury of hitting behind guys like Harper, Realmuto, Gregorius, and even Hoskins, and the ceiling remains sky high for the Philadelphia Phillies starting third baseman.