To call the Philadelphia Phillies outfield offensive production through their first eight games underwhelming would be a massive understatement. While Odubel Herrera appears to have overcome a slow start, the other three outfielders currently on the team — Peter Bourjos, Tyler Goeddel and Cedric Hunter — are all batting below .170.
Though Cody Asche is just a career .246 hitter, some have wondered whether he wouldn't be an upgrade over some of the Phillies current outfielders.
The Phillies don't seem in a hurry to have Asche back however, as Matt Gelb of Philly.com says that after being re-evaluated today the team doesn't plan to have Asche start hitting again until next month.
What you see in Phillies OF is what you get, for now. Cody Asche won't start hitting until May. Front office is pleased with OF defense.
— Matt Gelb (@MattGelb) April 13, 2016
Asche suffered an oblique injury early in Spring Training, and then re-aggravated the injury playing in a minor league Spring Training game in late March. If Asche isn't even going to start hitting until May, it suggests that his rehab hasn't necessarily gone according to planned and that he probably won't be back until later in the month of May, if all goes well. It also suggests that the Phillies aren't necessarily concerned with other players getting playing time while Asche is out.
Asche's continued absence, perhaps by design, will also give the Phillies a chance to look at other options in the outfield. Cedric Hunter and Tyler Goeddel have both struggled to open the season — with Goeddel looking over-matched at the major league level — but the Phillies aren't a contending team, so they are able to be patient with players who have rough starts to the season. The Phillies will presumably be especially slow in making any final decisions on Goeddel, who because of his Rule-5 status would have to be offered back to the Tampa Bay Rays if the Phillies chose to option him to the minor leagues.
Will Venable, who the team signed late in Spring Training, currently has a .000 batting average in 13 at-bats, but because he presumably has a May 1st opt-out, the Phillies may want to get a look at him at the major league level before he gets the chance to opt-out. Asche being out makes potentially giving him that chance easier.
Tim Kelly (@TimKellySports) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com, focusing on news and features.
