The Phillies signed a young second baseman out of Venezuela at the young age of 16. While it feels like Hernandez has been in the Phillies system forever, he had to grow up while playing in the Phillies system. A very talented second baseman, Hernandez has been blocked by long-time Phillies star Chase Utley. As the Phillies rebuild, the team must take a long look at Hernandez in his natural position in 2015.
The Phillies clearly like Hernandez. They like him so much that they gave him an extended look in center field in 2013. Hernandez hit much more capably than we might have expected, hitting .289 and getting on base at a .341 clip mostly leading off while being thrown into a position that was not really for him. The end result was that while Hernandez played to an admirable level center field was not for him.
Then came 2014 and Hernandez once again had nowhere to play. This time around the Phillies began the season with Hernandez on the bench, and his play mostly came as someone pinch-hitting against the closer in the 9th inning or appearing as a pinch runner. His at bats were so few and far between that the Phillies sent him down to AA Reading, where he could hit regularly. Hernandez proved that his bat was far and above a minor league bat. Hernandez's time defensively was spent playing third base and shortstop as the Phillies kept trying to find a place for Hernandez to play.
Hernandez has been a good sport through all of this, being shuffled back and forth between Philadelphia and the minor leagues and being send around the diamond defensively whether he was comfortable to do so or not. The shuffling clearly affected Hernandez's bat. For what it's worth, Hernandez batted .310 as a second baseman in 2014. As a third baseman, where Hernandez got most of his at bats, he batted .167. Hernandez also went 4 for 10 as a shortstop and batted .219 in 32 at bats as a pinch hitter. It would appear in this smaller sample size that Hernandez is most comfortable at the plate when he is at second base.
Meanwhile, Chase Utley played 155 games at second base. Part of the reason that Utley had to play second base so frequently is that Ryan Howard was the one relegated to designated hitter when those opportunities came up becuase it was a more-pressing need. Howard may be moved this offseason, opening first base for Utley. If that is the case, Hernandez must get first crack at second base to find out how he can do if he plays his natural position.
Hernandez brings two other things to the table: stellar defense up the middle and is able to bat from both sides of the plate. While the Phillies' lineup continues to be very left-handed, Hernandez would bring a little bit of balance to the lineup. In previous years, when the Phillies were able to put both Shane Victorino and Jimmy Rollins in the lineup, it functioned better, as they were able to face pitchers from the both sides. Some of that balance could return to the lineup, with some extra speed from Hernandez on the base paths as an added bonus.
The Phillies appear hell-bent on retaining Chase Utley no matter what. But they do not appear to be that committed to Ryan Howard any longer. If they do indeed move Howard, the Phillies should give Utley's knees a break and move him to first base and give Cesar Hernandez his opportunity. Hernandez is out of minor league options: he needs to be on the major league roster. 2015 should finally be his chance.
