The Philadelphia Phillies have been performing significantly better recently and are nearing a .500 record. Still, they have room for improvement and some clear weaknesses to address.
Since dismissing manager Rob Thomson, the Phillies have become one of baseball’s top teams. After starting the season with a dismal 9–19 record, the franchise desperately needed a strong turnaround—and so far, that’s exactly what they’ve gotten. They’re finally beginning to resemble the team many expected them to be.
Philadelphia’s identity has been built around its excellent starting rotation. With Zack Wheeler back on the mound, the unit looks impressive on paper again. Despite some inconsistency, the rotation has generally been solid.
Though the offense has improved lately, concerns remain. Alec Bohm recently had his best game of the season against the Colorado Rockies, but his overall numbers this year have been very poor.
While Bohm’s strong performance was encouraging, he’ll need a long hot streak to salvage his season. Given the Phillies’ high expectations, they may not want to gamble on that happening. Pursuing an upgrade at third base could still be on the table. One logical target is Texas Rangers’ Josh Jung.
Jung Could Be the Solution at Third Base
Given Bohm’s struggles, exploring an upgrade at the hot corner makes perfect sense for Philadelphia. The team needs more production from that position. So far in 2026, Jung has been excellent, posting a .322/.372/.510 slash line with five home runs and 20 RBIs.
A former first-round pick, Jung broke out with the Rangers in 2023 but struggled in 2024 and 2025, much like several of his teammates. Now in 2026, he’s off to a fast start and appears headed for one of the best seasons of his career.
Beyond providing right-handed offensive help, Jung could also serve as the long-term answer at third base. With Bohm struggling and set to become a free agent after this season, Philadelphia will need a new third baseman in 2027. Jung, who still has two years of arbitration eligibility left, could fill that role.
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