Alec Bohm

Bohm received his first opening day start in 2021, where he impressed both offensively and defensively against the Atlanta Braves, first with an inning-ending throw to first baseman Rhys Hoskins, followed by a sixth-inning go-ahead RBI. As the season developed, however, Bohm’s missteps at third base attracted attention, particularly after he made two errors in one 11–3 loss to the Boston Red Sox on May 21. By the end of the game, Bohm had committed seven errors that season and had missed several other defensive plays. He struggled at the plate as well, with only a .225 batting average. On July 10, 2021, Bohm was unexpectedly removed in the eighth inning of an 11–2 victory over the Red Sox, with Ronald Torreyes filling in at third base. Girardi later revealed that Bohm, who had hit a home run earlier in the game, had been removed due to COVID-19 protocols.

The following day, it was announced that Bohm had tested positive but was asymptomatic for the virus, and that pitchers Aaron Nola, Connor Brogdon, and Bailey Falter had also been placed on the COVID-19 restricted list due to contact tracing protocols. Even after his return, Bohm continued to struggle with fielding, particularly with ground balls, and by August, utility player Ronald Torreyes had become the everyday third baseman for the Phillies. On August 22, he was sent back down to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He spent a month in Triple-A learning how to “slow the game down a little bit and relax” before being called back up on September 28 for the final six games of the season, serving as a bench batter while Freddy Galvis and Ronald Torreyes split time at third base. Bohm batted .247 in 115 games for the Phillies that season, with seven home runs and 47 RBIs in 380 at bats. He also committed 15 errors at third base, for a .936 fielding percentage.