Phillies Prospect Bohm Could Play in Team USA Olympic Qualifier
Phillies top prospect Alec Bohm has played during his major league camp invitation in 2020. Bohm has seven hits in 16 at bats through Sunday. While at major league camp, Bohm is getting some national attention to the point that he could potentially represent the United States in the Summer Olympic Games qualifiers.
Scott Lauber of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Bohm has the attention of Team USA manager Scott Brosius, who could consider Bohm for the squad:
Bohm is under consideration to play third base for the team that will travel to Arizona later this month to compete for a berth in the six-team baseball tournament at the Olympics this summer, according to U.S. manager Scott Brosius.
“Alec is definitely a guy that we’re talking about,” Brosius said by phone. “We’re interested in bringing him back."
Brosius says "back" as he participated in the Team 12 tournament under Brosius back in November.
Brosius, who played third base for the New York Yankees as a teammate of Phillies manager Joe Girardi, took the managerial helm of Team USA this past winter. That opening happened when Girardi resigned his post, expecting to manage a major league club in 2020. That ended up being the Phillies.
The Olympic qualifier will take place March 22-27 in Arizona. Since Bohm is unlikely to make the Phillies major league roster, he will not have a conflict. Triple-A Lehigh Valley opens on April 9 while the Phillies open on March 26 in Miami.
Baseball as an Olympic sport has not happened since 2008. That year, then-Phillies prospect Jason Donald won a gold medal with Team USA. Donald was one of the prospects sent to Cleveland in the trade that brought Cliff Lee to the Phillies.
The Olympic games will feature six countries. So far, Mexico, Israel, Japan and South Korea have already qualified. The upcoming tournament in Arizona will determine the final two countries. Perhaps, like last time, there will be a Phillies prospect presence.