Phil of the Phuture

Alec Bohm looks like someone who was born to hit.  His first big leage home run in Sunday night's win over the Braves was proof of that.

The Phillies first round draft pick (third overall) in 2018 hit well while climbing the minor league ladder -- I caught him last August at Double-A Reading.

But there's a clear flaw in his game: his defense. His awkward, erratic play at 3rd base in a game last week with the Braves was painful to watch. He could easily have wound up charged with three errors in the same inning. And he's no Keith Hernandez or John Olerud at 1st, either. Besides, the Phils have another of their young cornerstones Rhys Hoskins stationed there (and after the ill-fated signing of Carlos Santana a few years back, they learned that Hoskins can't play the outfield).

And this is no isolated incident. His career minor league fielding average at 3rd was an ugly .920; but that's better than the .810 from the 2019 Arizona Fall League. While he could grow into a David Ortiz or Nelson Cruz as a fulltime DH -- especially if the DH becomes universal by 2022, should someone just 24 be consigned to "half player" status? And should an organization use the number-three over pick on a player who can't pull his weight in the field?

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