Phillies activate Odubel Herrera, Aaron Altherr from disabled list
By John Town
The Phillies activated outfielders Aaron Altherr and Odubel Herrera from the disabled list Monday, but their amount of playing time is up in the air.
The Phillies brought back their best two hitters this season Monday, activating Odubel Herrera and Aaron Altherr from the disabled list. Both were suffering from hamstring injuries, although they are still not back in action as neither were in the starting lineup against the Mets Monday afternoon.
Herrera said that he feels “100 percent” and manager Pete Mackanin said he should be back in the lineup Tuesday. Meanwhile, Altherr did not make an appearance in his rehab assignment in Reading over the weekend. He said he thinks he is close to returning but is unsure of any specific time frame.
In reality, the two were activated because the minor-league season ends Monday and there wasn’t really any either spot for them.
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Both Altherr and Herrera were on a torrid pace before hitting the disabled list. Altherr has a .285/.357/.536 line with 16 home runs and 49 runs batted in during 87 games this season. After a poor May, Herrera was nearly unstoppable, posting a .967 OPS in 63 games since June started.
Even though the two have been the team’s best hitters, how much playing time they will get in the last few weeks of the season is up in the air.
The club has two rookies getting everyday at-bats in the outfield in Rhys Hoskins and Nick Williams. With Altherr and Herrera returning, someone is going to get forced out.
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From what Mackanin said, it sounds like Altherr and Herrera may be the ones left out of the rotation: [quote via Justin Klugh of the Good Phight]
"“I’ve seen Altherr enough to know that he’s made a good impression. And we know Herrera is going to be our center fielder.”"
This logjam could be cleared up somewhat whenever Hoskins plays at first base, allowing Altherr, Herrera, and Williams to man the outfield. However, Mackanin seems hesitant to move Tommy Joseph out of the lineup, even if it means getting arguably his best four hitters in the lineup together.
Next: Should manager Pete Mackanin be on the hot seat?
Mackanin’s logic does make some sense because Herrera is the team’s long-term center fielder and Altherr did enough this year to warrant being the Opening Day left or right fielder next season. This is the time of year to start figuring out what you want to do with your younger players the next year.