Major League Baseball

Phillies, Fans Should Be Pleased With Progress Of Herrera

Updated Mar. 5, 2020 12:24 a.m. ET

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The 2016 season was not simply one season for the Philadelphia Phillies centerfielder, Odubel Herrera. It was the Tale of Two Seasons for the talented lefty.

The 2015 Phillies Rule 5 pick was looking to piggy back off his extremely impressive full season debut. Some would argue that Herrera took a step back during 2016. I would argue that he proved to the front office that he is a piece they can move forward with for their bright future.

While I would be off base to argue that the his season was simply placed on cruise control for six months, I believe there were more positives than negatives. Sure, manager, Pete Mackanin, had to discipline the outfielder a few different times throughout the season. As former TBOH editor, Matt Veasey suggested, there were times that Phillies fans supported Herrera’s benching.

Others would argue that Herrera lacked the necessary consistency to hit atop the order or the awareness to be an every day centerfielder. I am here to argue both of those points and hopefully help fans understand just how good the Phillies lone 2016 All-Star really is.

Odubel the Energizer

Look, I get it. This is probably the least important of anything I will mention throughout this entire piece. But here me out on this one, and consider the most recent successful run for this city’s baseball team. What made that group so easy for us to love?

There was a swagger to that team. Whether it was Ryan Howard “cadillac-in” a late-inning homerun or Jimmy Rollins smirking after an incredibly athletic slide that led to the go ahead run in the bottom of the eighth, the team had an attitude.

Reality

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Herrera has that attitude. Charlie Manuel had to bench Rollins a handful of times for not running hard and he could still be the catalyst the team needed. Herrera and his legendary bat flips can do the same. For a statistical look, the Phils were 36-28 this season when Herrera scored at least one run in a game. When he scored more than one run? A 13-5 record.

Obviously, the Phillies will need more multi-run games from their leadoff hitter (if that is where Herrera continues to hit), but they will also continue to plug guys in who will make sure he is crossing the plate more often. Remember, Herrera will only be 25 for all of next season. He never played above AA until 2015, but the kid shows no fear and plays like a ten year veteran.

That is someone who fans, and a franchise, can get behind.

Odubel the Hitter

I get it. It seemed as though he was worse than last season. It seemed as though he was inconsistent. “El Torrito” seemed to frustrate more fans than he did in 2015.

I am here to tell you that those perceptions are just not true at all. He had one bad month. It seemed like during the month of July, he was pressing to do way too much. It was the only month in which he did not reach an on-base percentage of at least .330 throughout all of 2016.

Still Growing

When you compare 2015 and 2016 for the energetic outfielder, it is not easy to find a ton of negative differences. As a matter of fact, I would argue he improved immensely from a year ago in different areas of his offensive game.

Apr 22, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Odubel Herrera (37) dives into home plate during the fifth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

“But, Mike, he struck out more in 2016.”  Right, but he also had almost 100 more at bats than in 2015. Next.

“Yeah, but he hit 11 points lower than he did in 2015.” Ok, he also walked 35 more times and raised his OBP 17 points too. Among all outfielders in Major League Baseball, Herrera ranked 12th in on-base percentage. That is an incredibly encouraging sign. His power numbers were up, boosting to 15 homers from seven the previous year.

“Don’t forget his base running issues though.” It would be the area you could argue with me and I may hesitate, but I would also point out that he stole 25 bases (18th in all of baseball) and was caught stealing one less time this season. And somehow on the worst offense in baseball, Herrera was able to find himself in the top 50 run scorers in baseball.

Confidence Is Key

When one of the biggest knocks on a player is his attitude, it would be easy for said player to pack it in after the type of July Herrera had. He watched his average dip slowly from .306 to .283 and the season could have gotten away from him. However, he did not. The second half could have gotten away from him. He did see his walks drop, but his confidence never seemed to waver at bat to at bat.

As TBOH writer, John Town wrote, Herrera saved his season in August. He slashed an impressive 319/.380/.495 during the month. That type of confidence and demeanor is what is going to make him the special player the Phillies need moving forward in their rebuild. He has already shown his ability to adjust and make himself better. His confidence and improvement offensively will only continue to progress.

Odubel the Defender

When the Phillies took Herrera in the 2014 Rule 5 draft, no one was discussing what he was capable of with the glove. Really, no one knew what he was capable of with his glove. Why? He did not have a position. There have been cries to move him back to second base, but the Phillies front office personnel and Mackanin have been pretty adamant about leaving him in centerfield.

Workload Increase

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It is crucial to remember that the Venezuelan native played nearly 20 more games in 2016. His defensive numbers do not look better, but all things considered, he is still learning the position. What I saw this year was an outfielder who has the speed to get to pretty much anything. What is important for Herrera is to allow him to continue to play every day out there.

What is positive is to see him rank in the top ten centerfielders in defensive WAR (Wins Above Replacement) this season. He was behind names like Mike Trout and Mookie Betts, but still in that conversation at 0.8 dWAR. His fielding percentage dropped from .986 in 2015 to .977 this season. In twenty addition games, I would be lying if I told you I was surprised. However, watching him closely this season, routes to balls had a ton to do with his errors.

Only experience can help him improve in that area.

Odubel the Building Block

I think it is time people just believe in the kid. I do not believe I can be any clearer in my opinion. Outside of one bad month in two seasons, a couple of times he decided to dog it to first base, and an inconsistent (albeit improving) approach at the plate, Herrera has been the Phillies best player the last two seasons.

Can he get better? I think he can. He obviously thinks he can. If the Phillies are able to put pieces around the left-handed speedster, his production would more than likely increase. I have been on the Torrito Train since he was picked up two seasons ago. With his energy and ability, I think it is a train that can help take the Phillies where they want to go, like another leadoff hitter from the not-so-distant past.

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