Philadelphia Phillies Position Preview: First Baseman
The Philadelphia Phillies will enter 2025 as a make-or-break year for its current core of players that amount to the fourth largest salary cap in the MLB. Without a World Series and the team running it back for a third straight year, questions have been asked about the longevity of the current core group. Looking at the roster, it relied on veteran players who have now spent a good amount of time in their careers in Philadelphia. The first baseman position especially, with Bryce Harper who has now been with the Phillies for six years and is about to enter his seventh year. Harper came to the Phillies as an outfielder but due to an injury with his arm, he made the switch to first base. Outside of Harper, the Phillies will have to make a tough choice on who to keep as a backup for the position.
Bryce Harper
Since his switch to the position in 2023, Harper has excelled in his new role and is arguably one of the best first basemen in the league. Defensively, Harper was voted as a finalist for the position for the Golden Glove award in 2024. In his 141 games at the position this year, Harper accumulated a .996 fielding percentage along with the fourth most putouts in the league at his position with 1050. Offensively, Harper takes his game to another level as he was voted as the Silver Slugger for his position as well as All-MLB Second Team. In 2024, Harper hit for a .285 batting average as well as hitting for 30 home runs and 87 RBIs. Harper has been a leader for the entire Phillies roster and the face of the team since signing his 13-year, $330 million contract to come to Philadelphia. He will look to be one of the leading forces for the Phillies to get back to the postseason and look to bring the World Series back to Broad St.
Alec Bohm
Alec Bohm has primarily spent his time with the Phillies as their third basemen, however, Bohm has served as a backup first baseman position when Harper needs a rest or when injured. Bohm appeared in 15 games as a first baseman in 2024, starting 11 of those, providing himself as a valuable backup for Harper. In the field, Bohm totaled a .991 fielding percentage while only allowing one error on the season. At the plate, Bohm hit for a .280 batting average with 15 home runs and 97 RBIs in 2024. Bohm’s performance at both corner infield positions earned him the first all-star selection in his young career. The question in 2025 for Bohm is, does he primarily stick to third base or does manager Rob Thomson continue to use the 28-year-old as a backup behind Harper?
Kody Clemens
Kody Clemens has been a versatile piece for the Phillies throughout 2024 as he played in six different positions last season including first base. Clemens appeared in 15 games for the Phillies as a first baseman, starting in 10 of those, and supplying as a useful backup piece. In the field, Clemens provided a perfect fielding percentage with a 1.0 and gave up no errors on the year. Clemens did not have as much success as Bohm did at the plate but still provided impact by hitting for a .219 batting average along with five home runs. The issue with Clemens is that he is competing for one of the last roster spots on the Phillies’ 40-man Opening Day roster. Clemens along with Buddy Kennedy, Weston Wilson, and others are right on the bubble of making the roster. The decision for Clemens will come down to who Thomson feels is the best fit for the team.
