MIAMI – When Alec Bohm swings a bat lately, it feels like … well, let him explain it in his own words.

“It’s like someone has a hammer,” he said, “and when I swing it, he hits my hand with the hammer.”

It’s been like that for eight days now, with only minimal improvement. So rather than continue playing with a shorthanded bench, the Phillies finally placed Bohm on the 10-day injured list with a left hand injury on Friday and recalled infielder Buddy Kennedy from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

” READ MORE: Nick Castellanos’ pursuit of 162 games is unbearable. It’s a testament to the Phillies’ faith in him.

The move is retroactive to Tuesday (Bohm has not played since August 29, but placement on the injured list cannot be made more than three days retroactively), so the third baseman will be eligible to play again on September 13 in the home game against the Mets.

But that may be wishful thinking.

“It will probably take longer,” manager Rob Thomson said, noting that Bohm will need to go through a batting development that could include a brief stint in the Triple-A league.

The Phillies initially thought Bohm might return this weekend and resisted activating him from the active roster, but after he showed off his skills on Thursday by batting around the cage without hitting a ball, a visit to the injured list seemed inevitable.

“We want to make sure we take our time and don’t rush him back,” Thomson said. “It just didn’t progress as quickly as we thought it would. So we’re going to do the right thing and make sure he’s ready to go.”

Bohm, 28, injured his hand while swinging in the first inning against the Braves on August 29. At first it looked like he had injured his hamstring, but diagnostic tests ruled out broken bones, torn tendons and other possible structural damage.

The Phillies called the injury a “strain.” Regardless, it interrupted a stellar season in which he posted a .290 batting average with 13 home runs and an .804 OPS, and led the majors with 44 doubles. Bohm played in the All-Star Game in July and participated in the Home Run Derby.

” READ MORE: What to make of Bryce Harper’s health, why scouts like the Phillies’ chances and other insights

“Nobody wants to not be able to play,” Bohm said before the Phillies resumed their series against the Marlins. “I don’t want everyone to get injured and me not being able to play, and now we’re one less man on the bench in case, God forbid, something crazy happens and we’re out of players. That’s obviously not what you want.”

“At the end of the day, just get healthy for the home stretch.”

In 2021, Bohm suffered a similar injury after being demoted to Triple A. He was unable to swing a bat without pain for more than a week, and it took 16 days for him to return to the lineup for Lehigh Valley.

Based on that schedule, Bohm would return next weekend.

“It got to the point where I couldn’t swing,” Bohm said. “Obviously they can’t play DH for me in the field, so I’m pretty useless at that point until I can hit. When we got to the point where I still couldn’t swing, we just figured it would happen around the same time (so 2021). No harm, no foul. Just be ready to be back for the Mets series.”

Without Bohm, the Phillies have used Edmundo Sosa, Weston Wilson and left-hander Kody Clemens at third base. Clemens started his third straight game Friday night against right-hander Edward Cabrera of the Marlins. Although the Phillies will face two other right-handers in this series, Thomson indicated he would use Sosa or Wilson on Saturday.

Kennedy, a native of Millville, NJ, could also be an option, although he’s more likely to be benched. The Phillies acquired him from the Tigers in June. He has a .295 batting average with 10 home runs and a .910 OPS in Lehigh Valley.

” READ MORE: The Phillies expected more from Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh. This is how they deal with a “game of failure.”

Big Stott

It was overshadowed by Ranger Suárez’s five scoreless innings (despite a drop in velocity), but Bryson Stott got the Phillies’ offense going on Thursday night with an RBI single in the first inning and a solo home run in the sixth.

Noteworthy: The single went into left field, while the home run bounced off the upper deck in right.

“It felt really good,” Stott said. “I feel like I’m in a good place right now.”

Stott has struggled at bat for most of the season, but he seems to have found his rhythm recently, having two hits in three of his last six games.

“For me, it’s less about a feel. It’s more about where the ball goes,” Stott said. “When I use the whole field and hit line drives to left, I think I’m at my best. Obviously, you like to pull balls. But when I get that single in left field, that’s pretty good for me.”

In his final 20 games through Friday night, Stott struck out 20 of 66 batters (.303) with four doubles, three home runs and an OPS of .873, mostly from fifth place in the batting order.

” READ MORE: One month to go: Zack Wheeler’s chances for the Cy Young Award

Additional bases

Right-handed reliever Michael Rucker was signed by the Nationals after being designated for assignment by the Phillies last week. … In his first three games in Double A, top prospect Aidan Miller was 3-for-12 with two RBIs. … Aaron Nola (12-6, 3.29 ERA) is scheduled to start Saturday against Marlins right-hander Darren McCaughan (0-0, 8.24).