When the final out is recorded following Game No. 162 of the 2026 MLB season, when the records are finalized and the statistical ledgers are put to bed, we will be comforted in knowing exactly what saved Alec Bohm’s year.
After starting April in the most dreadful slump imaginable on the field while dealing with what one can only assume is a nightmarish legal dispute with his parents off the field, interim manager Don Mattingly gave Bohm two nights off.
No baseball on Thursday. No baseball on Friday.
Entering Saturday, Bohm dragged a .159 batting average, .227 on-base percentage and .433 OPS around his neck like an anchor. The Phillies were running out of options. He was in danger of losing his starting spot to Edmundo Sosa or some combination of minor leaguers who would be called up to replace him.
Then, Elmo entered the picture.
After declaring “Elmo wants to see a home run,” to Tom McCarthy and John Kruk on the Phillies’ broadcast, Bohm stepped up to the plate and swatted a solo homer to left field, his first since Opening Day. He followed it up with a second dinger in his second at-bat and finished the day 3-for-4 with a double and four RBIs in the Phils’ 9-3 victory.
On Sunday, Bohm didn’t exactly repeat those heroics, but did got 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI in Sunday’s 6-0 whitewashing of Colorado.
Sometimes, a player needs a little something, even if it’s not real. For Bohm, who has seen nothing go right for him in 2026, why not attribute a turnaround to a furry little red muppet?
Clearly, Bohm is entering the Elmo Stage of this current iteration of the Phillies.
Whatever it takes, dude. Whatever it takes.
