Section 215
Fansided

Philadelphia Phillies: Once again, Philly is proven to be the city of underdogs

By Andrew Cereghin

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 23: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after defeating the San Diego Padres in game five to win the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 23: Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after defeating the San Diego Padres in game five to win the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 4
Next
Philadelphia Phillies
Oct 18, 2022; San Diego, California, USA; Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm (28) before game one of the NLCS of the 2022 MLB Playoffs against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports /

Alec Bohm and Zach Eflin have overcome the odds in Philadelphia

Bohm came into spring training fighting for a roster spot after a very disappointing 2022 season. He eventually would win the 3rd base job but would struggle early in the season and his season seemed over when he made three errors in one inning and was caught saying, “I f—ing hate this place.”

But Alec owned up to his mistakes and was given a standing ovation in the next game and went on to be a cornerstone for the Phillies all year long, improving his defense, hitting .285/.321/.409 in the 2nd half of the season.

Bohm made headlines once again with a new quote after Game 5 of the NLCS when the Philadelphia Phillies sealed the series. Alec Bohm ended his postgame interview with NBC Sports’ John Clark by looking into the camera with a big smile and saying simply, “I love this place.”

Pitcher Zach Eflin, meanwhile, faced struggles of another sort.

There was a lot of hype surrounding Zach Eflin at the beginning of the season. Everyone knew that Zach had the talent to be a middle-of-the-rotation guy, but injuries always seemed to hold him back from truly living up to his potential, and it looked like 2022 would be the same story.

Eflin would go to the IL in June and wouldn’t make his return until September and would never be used out of the rotation after his return. Instead, the Phillies decided to use Eflin out of the bullpen and give it some much-needed depth. Eflin would close out the clinching game for the Phillies against the Astros and be one of the most reliable options coming out of the pen in the Postseason.

Many were thinking that Eflin would never pitch for the Phillies again as his return from IL was never a guarantee, and the Phillies have a club option on his contract for next season, but now it seems impossible for the Phillies to let him walk considering how good he’s been coming out of the bullpen to end the year.

Home/Philadelphia Phillies