Alec Bohm's worst moment as a pro may have helped pave an All-Star path

On Wednesday night, Alec Bohm was named the National League starter at third base for the 2024 All-Star Game. Shortly after hearing the news, the former No. 3 overall pick fittingly smacked a go-ahead two-run home run in the sixth inning, helping lift the Philadelphia Phillies to a 5-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.

The moment felt huge for Bohm, especially considering he once said he "hated this place," referring to Philadelphia and the fan base that not only helped vote him into his first All-Star game but now cheered him from the Wrigley Field seats, a mere 668 miles from the City of Brotherly Love.

While the massive hit on his big day and the reaction it caused might've felt like a huge turning point for both sides, mended fences came much earlier, and it may have steadied the third baseman's path from potential bust to cherished All-Star.

A common theme during Bohm's breakout campaign has been revisiting his regrettable on-field comments directed at the Philly crowd in 2022. But many forget what happened immediately after the nasty incident.

During a game against the New York Mets, Bohm made several egregious errors before earning sarcastic cheers from Phillies fans after making a routine play later in the game. He made his thoughts on the jeers clear enough for even the worst lip-reader to comprehend, saying, " I f------ hate this place " in response.

Instead of running away from the situation, he acknowledged the comment and offered an explanation and a sincere apology after the game.

"I said it," Bohm said . "Do I mean it? No. I'm sorry for that — emotions just got the best of me."

In turn, the hardnosed Philly crowd offered a heartfelt retort the next night, giving Bohm a standing ovation as he stepped to the plate for his first at-bat.

Beef squashed.

After his show of accountability, Bohm could focus on baseball, while the fans in the stands had a new appreciation for their third baseman. That season, he finished with 13 home runs and 72 RBI, the best output of his major league career at the time.

Since then, he's only improved. In 2023, he posted new career bests (20 home runs, 97 RBI) and is well on his way to doing so again in 2024.

Following the Phillies win on Wednesday against the Cubs, Bohm leads the National League with 70 RBI. Meanwhile, along with 11 home runs, he's slashing .299/.351/.494 with a .845 OPS., career-bests by a large margin.

Bohm obviously had the talent to be a productive player at the pro level before ever stepping on the field as a member of the Phillies. But, he struggled to find his footing over his first full season with the team, and there's no telling how things might've turned out had he handled the situation differently just two years ago.