Phillies Place Alec Bohm on IL, Updates on Nola, Walker, and Painter

Prior to Saturday’s matchup against the Angels, the Phillies placed third baseman Alec Bohm on the 10-day injured list due to a fractured rib on his left side. In a corresponding move, Weston Wilson was recalled from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill Bohm’s spot on the active roster.

Bohm initially suffered the injury last weekend in San Diego when he was hit by a pitch. Although he sat out the final game before the All-Star break, the team had hoped the time off would be sufficient for him to recover. However, Bohm appeared to worsen the injury during his final at-bat in Friday’s loss to the Angels.

“He felt it again during his last at-bat,” said manager Rob Thomson. “He came in today and still felt discomfort, so we had him checked out. That led to the decision to put him on the IL.”

Before the injury, Bohm was batting .278 with 8 home runs and 42 RBIs across 92 games this season.

Weston Wilson, who returns from Triple-A, previously appeared in 20 games for the Phillies earlier this year, posting a .194 average before being sent down on June 19.

In Saturday’s game, Otto Kemp will handle third base duties. The Phillies are expected to use a mix of Kemp, Edmundo Sosa, Wilson, and potentially Bryson Stott to cover the hot corner during Bohm’s absence. Against left-hander Yusei Kikuchi, Sosa will start at second base, while Brandon Marsh shifts to left field and Johan Rojas takes over in center.

Thomson explained the outfield alignment, saying, “I like how Marsh is swinging right now, and with him and Rojas out there, we get excellent defense.”

Aaron Nola Making Progress

Starting pitcher Aaron Nola took a positive step in his recovery by throwing a live batting practice session on Saturday.

“He looked really good,” Thomson said. “He threw 34 pitches across two simulated innings. His command was sharp, and his curveball looked great.”

Nola is slated to throw another bullpen session early next week. If all goes smoothly, he could begin a minor league rehab assignment shortly thereafter, with an early August return looking likely.

Walker Back in the Rotation

Taijuan Walker will make his 10th start of the season on Saturday night. The veteran has been shuffled between the bullpen and rotation throughout the year, making 11 relief appearances in addition to his starts.

Thomson praised Walker’s selfless approach. “He’s been fantastic. He’s really done everything we’ve asked of him. He’s throwing the ball well and competing every time he’s out there.”

During the All-Star break, Walker threw a bullpen session in Arizona to stay sharp. His most recent outing came 11 days ago in San Francisco, where he tossed 63 pitches. With Nola still sidelined, Walker seems to have the inside track on holding the fifth rotation spot for now.

Painter’s Rehab Continues

Top prospect Andrew Painter is scheduled to start Thursday for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The 21-year-old right-hander holds a 5.01 ERA through 12 starts at that level this season.

Thomson gave an update on Painter’s development. “He’s healthy, which is the most important thing. His command isn’t quite what it was before, but his stuff looks good. We’re evaluating him on a start-by-start basis.”

Earlier in the year, Phillies president Dave Dombrowski suggested a potential big-league debut for Painter sometime in July. With only a couple weeks left in the month, that timeline now appears unrealistic.

“You can’t pin a date on it,” Thomson said. “We need him to be healthy, pitching well, and have a spot open for him. He’s close to being his usual self, but not quite there yet.”

Managing partner John Middleton echoed those thoughts, noting that Painter is still regaining his command post-Tommy John surgery.

“He’s getting closer,” Middleton said. “When guys come back from that surgery, the velocity usually returns fast, but command takes more time. That’s what he’s working through right now.”

When asked about the excitement of Painter eventually joining the big-league club, Middleton replied, “I’ll be excited when he’s shutting hitters down. And I believe he will. He’s smart, he’s driven, and he’s