Phillies place Bohm (left hand) on injured list

MIAMI -- Alec Bohm became the latest Phillie to go on the injured list when he was placed on the 10-day IL with a left hand strain on Friday, retroactive to Tuesday. The Phils recalled infielder Buddy Kennedy from Triple-A Lehigh Valley to fill the hole in their roster. The day prior, Philadelphia placed Austin Hays on the IL with a kidney infection, retroactive to Monday.

Bohm had missed six straight games, out of commission since Aug. 29 -- when he injured his hand after fouling off a pitch in his first-inning at-bat (X-rays were negative). The Phillies were hopeful Bohm’s injury wouldn’t require an IL stint, but it was not healing as fast as all those involved had hoped.

Bohm took dry swings in the cages on Thursday but was still feeling pain. It was then that the Phillies knew an IL stint might be needed simply so they wouldn’t risk being a man short on the bench. They also don’t want to take any risks with their All-Star third baseman -- particularly as they seek their first division title since 2011.

“We're a little light on the bench,” manager Rob Thomson said Friday. “And we want to make sure that we're taking our time [and] we knock this thing out properly, not rushing back. Yeah, it just wasn't progressing, you know, as quickly as we thought. So we'll do the right thing and make sure he's good to go.”

Bohm explained that he can do his defensive work no problem, but when it comes to swinging, it feels “like someone's got a hammer, and when I swing, they hit my hand with the hammer.”

The focus for Bohm will be on strengthening his hand while doing as much as he can without feeling pain, as well as resting and healing until he can begin swinging again.

“Hopefully [the minimum time],” Thomson said. “But you know, we … thought he'd be available today, but it just hasn't worked out. So hopefully it'll be the 10 days, and then he's ready to go.

“But now … because it's been some time, we've got some progressions we've got to work through. So he's got to swing the bat first, pain-free, and then he's got to do cage work and BP and then velocity and curveballs, and you know, I don't even know about a rehab assignment. So hopefully it's 10 days. But you know, it's probably going to be longer than that.”

Bohm’s defense has been key at the hot corner this season, where he has the fourth-highest Outs Above Average in MLB (four). Offensively, Bohm has been having a career year, entering Friday tied with Jarren Duran of the Red Sox for the Major League lead with 44 doubles this season -- one shy of Scott Rolen’s franchise record for doubles hit by a third baseman (45 in 1998).

As the Phillies look to extend their lead over the rest of the National League East (eight games entering Friday), they’ll be itching to get Bohm back. His penchant for getting on base -- he entered Friday tied with Trea Turner for the third-highest on-base percentage on the team (.343) -- can only help down the stretch.

Kennedy, who was acquired from the Tigers on June 7, begins his second stint with the Phillies this season. He was in the Majors with Philly from Aug. 26-27, but he did not appear in a game.

Kennedy has slashed .295/.397/.513 with 19 doubles, one triple, 10 home runs and 32 RBIs in 63 games for the IronPigs. His 31 doubles between Lehigh Valley and Toledo this season are tied for second most in the International League.