Atlanta — When Major League Baseball called Alec Bohm, he made an easy choice. Was he going to play in the Home Run Derby? He stated, “I wasn’t gonna say no,” on Friday afternoon at Truist Park prior to the Phillies’ first game of the Braves series. “I could have, but I mean, I don’t know if there will ever be another chance to do it again.”
On July 16 in Arlington, Texas, Bohm will start at third base for the National League in the All-Star Game. The previous evening is the Derby. He and Orioles great Gunnar Henderson are the two confirmed participants thus far. At first look, it seems like an odd choice because Bohm is more of a batter than a home run hitter. Despite just having 11 games played thus far this season, he has produced a league-high 28 doubles and 70 RBI.
He hits doubles and lines drives with an up-the-middle stroke. However, he can launch them in hitting practice, just like most major leaguers, and that’s what the Derby is most like. He does attempt to draw the ball with authority at some moments in BP, and he will recreate similar swings in Texas.
Basically, I’m just going to see how many I can knock over the left-field fence,” he remarked. “I’m not trying to hit home runs in the game; obviously, I don’t have many home runs. Hopefully, my swing will be good enough to knock the ball into the gap and cause damage, but essentially, I’m hoping to hit the ball on the middle of the barrel and whatever occurs after that. However, I’m at ease in a BP situation; I won’t say it’s a different swing, but it’s probably not the game swing.”
“As far as it kinda messing up my swing, I don’t really have a worry with that,” Bohm said, addressing the concern that many Phillies fans will surely have. “It’s just kinda taking a three-minute round of batting practice and instead of trying to get my swing loose for the game, I’m trying to homer.” Bohm’s former college summer ball coach, Scott Wingo, will lead the squad in the Home Run Derby. Wingo and Whit Merrifield happened to be roommates at the University of South Carolina. Bohm won a Home Run Derby that Wingo pitched to him in during his rookie season in the Coastal Plains League.
“I just kinda said if I ever do one, I’ll call you,” he replied. A bat was Bohm’s prize for winning that Derby. One million dollars was awarded to Vladimir Guerrero Jr. as the 2023 Home Run Derby winner. Manager Rob Thomson stated, “I like it.” “I used to worry that guys would become tired and possibly wounded from it, but I don’t think it will have a significant impact on his stroke. He won’t start batting more aggressively because of a Home Run Derby. Just being in the national limelight might be beneficial for him. I’m hoping he prevails.”
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