Alec Bohm (PHI): 3-5, HR, 2 R, 6 RBI.
The Bohm Before the Storm
Philladelphia’s offense was quite busy on Monday. They chased Sandy Alcantara in the fifth inning after piling nine runs on 10 hits onto Miami’s ace. Seven Phillies hitters recorded multiple hits, and Alec Bohm was one of them. Since finishing as runner-up for National League Rookie of the Year in 2020, Bohm has experienced a slight regression in his hitting. He’s off to a hot start, however, this season, and his six RBI night is just the latest addition to what could be a breakout year for the Phillie.
The two hardest-hit balls of the game between the Phillies and Marlins belonged to Bohm; both left his bat traveling 109.3 mph. The first was Bohm’s single off Alcantara in the third inning that knocked in two runs, and the second came in the sixth inning in the form of the three-run homer into the Philadelphia night.
Entering Monday, the Phillies held the worst run differential in baseball; saying the team has struggled so far would be an understatement. It is safe to say they have not played like the reigning National League champions as of yet. The pitching, with their 5.40 ERA can take the brunt of the blame for the early struggles, but even with yesterday’s 14-run performance, the offense still sits at 19th in runs scored. Bryce Harper is the jolt that this offense needs, but until he comes back, one can hope that shelling the reigning National League Cy Young winner is just the thrust the offense needs.
Let’s see how the other hitters did Monday:
Nico Hoerner (CHC): 3-5, RBI, SB.
Nico Hoerner has had a productive start to the season as he settles into the leadoff role for the Cubs. His night on Monday was capped off by an opposite-field walk-off single. Before his game-sealing hit in the 10th inning, however, Hoerner also collected three hard-hit batted balls. Furthermore, all three came against Luis Castillo who was fairly dominant over six innings last night. With just one walk on the year, Hoerner may still need to work on his on-base percentage, but his bat-to-ball skills look as good as ever.
Jonah Heim (TEX): 2-3, HR, 2 R, RBI, BB.
After his offensive breakout last season, Jonah Heim got off to a slow start this season. His multi-hit game on Monday, however, showed some encouraging signs. The catcher recorded a 105 exit velocity twice, one of those times taking the ball 413 feet deep into the right-field seats. Currently rostered in just 11% of Yahoo leagues, Heim could become a decent pickup if he continues to show signs of his 2022 self.
Brandon Marsh (PHI): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.
There are several hitters that could be featured amidst the Phillies’ 15-run, 20-hit effort on Monday night, but the most deserving was Brandon Marsh. The outfielder connected for hard-contact four times, and hit the ball over 105 mph in three of those instances. Marsh’s only non-hard-hit ball of the night came in the third inning against Sandy Alcantara, yet it still dropped in for a double. Later on, the lefty was the first batter to face Devin Smeltzer after Alcantara was pulled and he turned around a fastball for a double to the right-center field wall. Marsh followed his two-bagger up with a four-bagger in the eighth that left his bat at 108 mph.
Christian Walker (ARI): 1-4, HR, R, 2 RBI.
If you bought high on Christian Walker, you have probably been disappointed thus far. The opposite-field bomb that the first baseman took from the bottom-outside corner of the strike zone to 380 feet into the seats, nevertheless failed to disappoint. The 102.1 mph blast off of Wade Miley in the fifth inning could not have been more clutch on a night when the Diamondbacks’ offense was mostly quiet. Arizona is off to a spectacular start to the season, and if Walker can get back to where he was last year, the team will be in a great spot to continue its success.
Max Muncy (LAD): 3-3, 2 HR, 2 R, 7 RBI, BB.
The Dodgers jumped out to an early lead on Monday, but the Giants remained in reach until Max Muncy took Sean Hjelle 380 feet for a grand slam and his second homer of the ballgame. His career-high seven RBI also marks the second time anyone has hit 7+ RBI in a game this season. Muncy, who had a somewhat rough year last year, will hope to continue feasting on the power surge around Major League baseball and experience a rebound year.
Sean Murphy (ATL): 3-5, 2 2B, HR, R, 3 RBI.
It was a quiet day for both offenses in Monday’s Atlanta vs. Cincinnati game until the final few innings. One bat that went against that tide was Sean Murphy’s. The catcher recorded three extra-base hits with the third one going for a walk-off bomb. In the season’s first week, it appeared Murphy would be stuck in the backup catcher role behind Travis d’Arnaud. With d’Arnaud sidelined with an injury at the moment, Murphy has his chance to prove himself worthy of a more regular role once d’Arnaud returns.
Austin Hays (BAL): 2-4, 2B, HR, 2 R, RBI.
The Orioles scored four out of five of their runs by way of the long ball yesterday. Austin Hays made a multi-hit contribution to the party. His 107.3 mph home run in the sixth inning came off a sinker on the inside corner of the plate from Jeurys Familia. Despite only getting on base in base two of his trips to the plate, Hays hit the ball hard in all four of his at-bats. The 27-year-old outfielder is rostered in just 28% of Yahoo leagues. Watch him closely to see if he continues to hit the ball hard, and if he does, he could become a quality add, at least 12+ team leagues.
Mike Zunino (CLE): 3-3, 3 2B, RBI, BB.
Having been stuck on the injured list for much of 2022, it feels like an eternity since Mike Zunino has hit like himself. Well, he just hit better than his usual self against the Yankees. His three doubles were crucial in the Guardian’s narrow victory and exhibits the lineup’s depth. Any one or two members of the lineup, Zunino included, can step up on any given night to push Cleveland over the edge, even against the best of teams.
Elehuris Montero (COL): 2-4, 2B, 2 R, RBI.
Elehuris Montero just had his second multi-hit game in the last week and his fourth of the season, and his double on Monday, which left his bat at 105.7 mph, was the hardest hit batted-ball of the game. Yet, the corner infielder is still only rostered in 15% of Yahoo leagues. He is not a threat on the bases nor will he be knocking in an overwhelming number of runs, but he has posted quality numbers at the plate so far, and they will continue to be padded by Coor Field.
Yordan Alvarez (HOU): 3-4, 2B, R, 2 RBI, BB.
Just a regular old multi-hit game courtesy of Yordan Alvarez to assist in topping the Pirates 8-2. His seventh-inning 106.1 mph double was the fourth-hardest hit of the game and his fourth-inning single was not that far behind. Despite the pre-season injury, the lefty looks as good as ever and holds an American League-leading 16 RBI.
Photo by Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire | Adapted by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter)