Bohm and Turner join Harper as NL All-Star starters Originally appeared in NBC Sports Philadelphia
CHICAGO — The Phillies knew they would have one, were almost certain to have two and felt confident they would send three starters to the All-Star Game.
That’s exactly what happened. Bryce Harper was already locked in as the NL’s starting first baseman after he and Aaron Judge received the most votes in their respective leagues during Phase 1, and it was announced Wednesday night that Trea Turner and Alec Bohm will join Harper in the starting infield in Texas on July 16.
Bohm comfortably edged out the other finalist at third base, Manny Machado, with 70 percent of the vote.
Turner was in a tight race with Mookie Betts at shortstop, but won 51% to 49%. Either way, he would have gotten the starting job because Betts is out until mid- to late August with a broken hand.
It’s the first time the Phillies have had three starters selected for the All-Star Game since 1982, with Mike Schmidt, Pete Rose and Manny Trillo. They also had three starters in 2009, but Shane Victorino replaced Carlos Beltran.
“It’s great for the organization, it’s great for all these guys that are now on the national stage,” manager Rob Thomson said. “We’ve been there for a couple of years. Hopefully (Bryson) Stott makes it, too. I don’t know what the odds are of that happening, but it would be great.”
Bohm is a very interesting story. He could have played off the field and been disgraced in Philadelphia in early 2022 after his infamous three-error, “I hate this place” game against the Mets. But he took responsibility that night, continued to work every day before the game with infield coach Bobby Dickerson, and has become a much more reliable fielder.
Bohm leads the majors with 28 doubles and leads the National League with 68 RBIs.
“It means a lot because I saw where he started,” Thomson said. “I saw his first spring training after the draft. Seeing him then, seeing him now, he’s a completely different guy, a completely different player, a completely different person. I’ve been a developmental guy my whole life and seeing those things happen really gets you going.”
Turner has had a very different first half of the season than in 2023, his first year with the Phillies. He enters Wednesday’s game batting .338/.386/.487. A year ago, through this date, he was hitting .249/.304/.383.
“Anytime you can get teammates together at the All-Star Game, it’s great,” he said. “I think for me personally, I think the way I started last year was impossible, so to be in this situation is a win for me.”
Four other Phillies players — JT Realmuto, Kyle Schwarber, Nick Castellanos and Brandon Marsh — made it to Phase 2 as finalists. William Contreras got more votes than Realmuto. Shohei Ohtani advanced ahead of Schwarber. The three starting outfielders are Cristian Yelich, Jurickson Profar and Fernando Tatis Jr.
The Phillies will find out Sunday at 5:30 p.m. ET how many pitchers and reserve players they will have in addition to their three starters. They have a host of worthy candidates in Zack Wheeler, Ranger Suarez, Cristopher Sanchez, Jeff Hoffman, Matt Strahm, Realmuto and perhaps Stott in a thin NL pool at second base.