Despite rumors of his trade last year, the Phillies continued to play Alec Bohm, but are now getting a reality check. Bohm, who recorded .287 last year, is hitting a meager .159 and has recorded just one big hit. The Phillies’ 17-21 skid is bad, but Bohm’s struggles are making the slump something even tougher to watch.

Before being fired, Rob Thomson played Bohm despite a 2-for-29 stretch to start the 2026 season. The Phillies’ interim manager, Don Mattingly, has few options left other than pressing Bohm hard.

“I’m sure he’s pressing because he wants to do well,” Mattingly said. “Just trying hard, right?”

While what Mattingly has said is routine support for a struggling veteran, Bohm’s slump demands more than just a statement. For reference, Bohm ranked 176th in batting average, 177th in on-base percentage (.227), and 177th in slugging percentage (.206) among 178 hitters with a minimum of 110 plate appearances entering the weekend.

Bohm is also struggling to hit the ball on the pull side. Of the 503 pitches faced, he’s pulled only four in the air. Further, his performance against fastballs has fallen from .283 in 2024 and 2025 to .108 now. So, what Bohm is facing is not a rough patch but a full-blown slump. He hit .247 in 2021, his lowest recorded average until now: .150-.160 in early May.

In the second game of his series against the A’s, Bohm entered the plate with the bases loaded and no outs—an ideal situation for a run. Even a bunt would have added a run for the Phillies when they were trailing 0-2 at that moment, but Bohm popped up a first-pitch fastball to first base. We wonder if Mattingly labeled this as Bohm is “trying hard.”

Bohm will hit free agency after this season, and surviving without big shots means an enormous impact. Bohm surely knows it, but thinks it is too early. “In my mind, that’s really far off in the distance,” he said. An issue that could affect his numbers is his personal turmoil.

Alec Bohm had already grabbed headlines when he sued his parents for allegedly mismanaging his finances and mishandling millions of dollars from accounts they controlled. The lawsuit claims his parents transferred funds to personal accounts for their own use and seeks at least $3 million in damages. The lawsuit is on trial. Meanwhile, Bohm also parted ways with his agent, Scott Boras.

It’s taking a lot for Bohm beyond the foul line, and it could be the reason behind his lack of on-field dominance. “He knows what he needs to do, and it’s going to come,” Brandon Marsh said about Bohm. But what if Bohm can’t get back to his prime? The Phillies have limited options.

Phillies weigh potential replacements for Alec Bohm

Mattingly and Thomson have experimented enough with Bohm. Initially, he was a cleanup hitter, but later dropped to eighth in the order. However, nothing productive is coming out of these experiments. The Phillies ultimately benched Bohm on Wednesday to make way for Edmundo Sosa. He has a homer in 51 at-bats and is hitting .294.

But against the A’s, Sosa scored nothing from his 3 at-bats. It proved one more time that the Phillies have limited scope to replace Bohm.

The next alternative could be top prospect Aidan Miller, who hit .264 last year in the minors. However, a back injury has sidelined him, so the team needs to check more names.

Rumors also suggest that the Astros’ Isaac Paredes could be a trading chip for Bohm. With Paredes, the Phillies could have an All-Star caliber target with 30-homer upside. But will the Astros accept a struggling Bohm? If Sosa succeeds on Wednesday, the team could still have an alternative. But a lack of options on the team until Miller returns forces the Phillies to look for external help.

But Bohm’s .159 average could keep away potential suitors. Mattingly has fewer choices other than motivating Bohm for better stats.