Philadelphia Phillies fans had plenty to say after manager Don Mattingly made a notable change to Alec Bohm’s position in the batting order ahead of the series opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Bohm, who had been hitting cleanup, was moved down to fifth in the order, a decision that immediately generated discussion among a fan base that has remained divided over the veteran infielder throughout the 2026 season.
The move came as the Phillies opened a new series in Arizona following an encouraging stretch of baseball. Philadelphia entered the Diamondbacks series having won 12 of its previous 14 games, including a 4-2 extra-inning victory over the Los Angeles Angels in the previous series. Bohm contributed two hits in that victory, another indication that his bat has begun to show signs of life at an important point in the season.
Bohm’s move down the order was therefore not necessarily a punishment or an indication that the Phillies had lost confidence in him. Instead, it appeared to be part of a broader effort by Mattingly to optimize a lineup that has undergone considerable changes since Philadelphia acquired Luis Arraez. The current arrangement placed Kyle Schwarber first as designated hitter, Trea Turner second at shortstop, Bryce Harper third in right field, Arraez fourth at second base, Bohm fifth at first base and Bryson Stott sixth at third base. Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford and Garrett Stubbs followed.
Bohm’s August Has Changed the Conversation
What makes the reaction particularly interesting is that Bohm’s recent numbers do not necessarily support the idea that he should be pushed completely out of the heart of the lineup.
According to the report, Bohm has enjoyed a solid August and has driven in more runs during the month than every Phillies hitter except Schwarber and, alongside Edmundo Sosa, has been among Philadelphia’s most productive run producers. Sosa entered the final day of August batting .423 for the month with 15 RBIs, while only Schwarber and Bohm had more RBIs for Philadelphia during August.
That recent improvement has caused at least some Phillies supporters to reconsider their stance on Bohm.
One social-media reaction described Bohm as finally “winning over” Philadelphia fans, reflecting the growing feeling that the infielder may be finding his footing at precisely the time the Phillies need him. The response has not been universal, however. Other fans continue to criticize Bohm and remain unconvinced that his recent improvement is enough to erase the concerns that have followed him throughout the season.
That split in opinion illustrates the unusual position Bohm currently occupies in Philadelphia.
For years, he has been viewed as one of the organization’s important young position players, but inconsistent production has repeatedly placed him under the microscope. The expectations surrounding him are high, especially because he has previously shown the ability to be an important middle-of-the-order hitter.
The Season Did Not Begin Well for Bohm
The debate surrounding Bohm cannot be separated from how poorly his season began.
In May, the Phillies temporarily removed him from the lineup after an extremely difficult opening stretch. At that point, Bohm was hitting only .159 with one home run, 15 RBIs and a .433 OPS, numbers that put him among the least productive qualified hitters in baseball at the time. Mattingly described the decision as giving Bohm “a little day,” effectively allowing him to step away from the pressure and reset physically and mentally.
The break appeared to help.
After returning to the lineup, Bohm produced a memorable two-home-run performance against Colorado, suggesting that the time away from game action had allowed him to reset. Bohm had reportedly been spending extensive time in the batting cage, working with technology, studying video and searching for mechanical adjustments before Mattingly encouraged him to take a complete day away from baseball activity.
That episode has become an important part of the larger Bohm story this season. His performance has fluctuated, but he has repeatedly demonstrated enough offensive ability to convince the Phillies that there is still a productive hitter somewhere inside the difficult stretches.
The Arraez Trade Changed Bohm’s Role
Another major factor has been Philadelphia’s acquisition of Luis Arraez.
The trade forced Mattingly to make several significant defensive and lineup changes. Bryce Harper moved back to right field, marking his first appearance in the outfield since April 2022. Bryson Stott moved to third base, while Bohm shifted from third to first. Arraez settled at second base.
That positional shuffle has also affected where players hit.
With Arraez now occupying a prominent spot in the lineup and Harper, Turner and Schwarber providing considerable offensive firepower near the top, Philadelphia has more flexibility in determining where Bohm fits best. Moving him from fourth to fifth does not necessarily diminish his importance. In fact, batting fifth could give Bohm opportunities to hit with runners on base while reducing some of the pressure that accompanies being designated as the cleanup hitter.
The Phillies can also use Arraez’s contact-oriented approach ahead of Bohm to create different offensive situations. Arraez’s ability to put the ball in play and reach base can potentially give Bohm more opportunities to drive in runs.
Phillies Offense Has Started to Look Different
Bohm’s resurgence has coincided with a larger offensive transformation in Philadelphia.
The Phillies have recently produced significantly better offensive numbers than they did earlier in the season. Since the All-Star break, Philadelphia has ranked near the top of baseball in several important offensive categories, including on-base percentage and batting average, while also cutting down on strikeouts.
That change has helped the Phillies remain firmly in contention as the postseason approaches.
The offense was also responsible for a dramatic comeback against the Angels before the Diamondbacks series. Edmundo Sosa hit the first grand slam of his career in the ninth inning of the previous series, while Bohm reached base after being hit by a pitch and subsequently scored during the rally.
Philadelphia has therefore entered September with considerably more offensive momentum than it had earlier in the campaign.
For Bohm, the timing could not be better.
Diamondbacks Series Provides Another Opportunity
The Diamondbacks matchup also carries additional intrigue because Arizona welcomed Ketel Marte back into its lineup following a controversial absence. Marte had been placed on the restricted list after failing to report for a game against Boston and later explained that he had been dealing with physical pain and frustration. He returned against Philadelphia and was booed by some Diamondbacks fans during his first at-bats.
That storyline provided plenty of drama around the series, but from Philadelphia’s perspective, the focus remained on maintaining its strong recent run.
Bohm’s role could become particularly important against Arizona because the Phillies need consistent production throughout the lineup rather than relying exclusively on their biggest stars. Schwarber, Turner and Harper can carry an offense for stretches, but a postseason-caliber lineup becomes considerably more dangerous when hitters such as Bohm, Arraez and Stott are also producing.
What the Decision Means for Bohm
Ultimately, moving Bohm to fifth should not be viewed as a major demotion.
The Phillies still placed him directly in the middle of the lineup and continued to trust him at first base. More importantly, his recent offensive improvement suggests the organization believes he can contribute during the final weeks of the season.
The larger question is whether Bohm can maintain that improvement.
His early-season struggles demonstrated how quickly his production can become a concern, while his August performance showed why Philadelphia has continued to give him opportunities. If he can combine his recent run production with better consistency at the plate, he could become a significant piece of the Phillies’ postseason lineup.
And that is why the reaction from Phillies fans has been so divided.
Some supporters are still frustrated by the player they saw earlier in the season, while others believe the recent version of Bohm is much closer to the hitter Philadelphia expected when he became an important part of the organization’s core.
For now, Mattingly’s decision to bat him fifth appears less like a rejection of Bohm and more like an attempt to maximize a lineup that has finally begun clicking.
With the Phillies entering the final stretch of the regular season in strong form, Bohm has an opportunity to turn recent improvement into sustained production and potentially silence some of his remaining critics along the way.
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