Philadelphia Phillies scout Teruaki Sato as potential Alec Bohm replacement

The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly evaluating Hanshin Tigers slugger Teruaki Sato as a potential replacement for Alec Bohm. With Bohm set to enter free agency following a difficult 2026 season, the team has dispatched scouts to assess the 27-year-old Japanese hitter.

Sato, an MVP winner in Nippon Professional Baseball, has demonstrated significant power, including a 40-home run season in 2025. His potential arrival would mark a significant recruitment of Japanese talent for the Phillies, a team that previously missed out on signing Yoshinobu Yamamoto.

Alec Bohm, who has served as the team’s primary third baseman for seven seasons, has faced performance challenges this year. After struggling with low batting averages and OPS metrics, Bohm has recently transitioned to playing first base following infield realignments within the roster.