Girardi giving Bohm a 'reset' with time off 3B

PHILADELPHIA -- Alec Bohm is spending his afternoons this week under the hot sun, taking ground balls and making throws at Citizens Bank Park.

He is working hard to improve his defense.

Phillies manager Joe Girardi started Ronald Torreyes at third base for a fourth consecutive game on Friday night against the Reds. Bohm started 96 of the team’s first 112 games at third, but his season-long struggles have pushed him to the bench this week, although he started at first base on Wednesday against the Dodgers.

“I’m just trying to reset him in a sense,” Girardi said. “By no means did I say [Torreyes] is going to play every day. But right now, Toe’s playing well and we’re just trying to reset Bohm. We need him to be productive, and that’s the bottom line. He’s swung the bat pretty well since June, but he’s had a rough homestand. I’m just trying to reset him.”

Bohm is batting .251 with seven home runs, 46 RBIs and a .655 OPS in 394 plate appearances this season, but .300 with an .828 OPS in 90 plate appearances since July 4.

His recent offensive production should be reason to celebrate, but Bohm has committed four errors in his last four starts, including three at third base and one at first. His 15 errors at third this season is tied with Boston’s Rafael Devers for the most in the Majors. His -10 Defensive Runs Saved is last among 15 qualified third basemen, according to FanGraphs. His -2 Outs Above Average is tied for 31st among 43 qualified third basemen.

“It’s important,” Girardi said about Bohm’s defense. “It’s hard when you give teams extra outs. It’s important that we make the plays and just give them 27.”

Bohm could return to third on Saturday, or Torreyes could play there a fifth consecutive game. Freddy Galvis could play third once he returns from the injured list, too. Galvis could begin a rehab assignment in the coming days.

“We just need him to make the plays he’s supposed to make,” Girardi said of Bohm. "I think you can get in a defensive slump a little bit, just like offense. We talked about it with Didi [Gregorius]. Early on in the year his timing was messed up. I think he went through it a little bit when he came back. We’ve seen him play much smoother. Alec hasn’t played a ton of professional baseball. He hasn’t had a ton of reps. We got him up here last year and he played great. He went through some defensive woes last year and then responded really well. And that’s what I expect this time.”

Girardi said a trip to Triple-A is not on anybody’s mind.

“We just think he can really help us win,” he said. “That’s what we believe.”