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Phillies 2019 season preview: OF Odubel Herrera

By George Stockburger

PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 14: Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits an RBI single in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on June 14, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - JUNE 14: Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies hits an RBI single in the seventh inning against the Colorado Rockies at Citizens Bank Park on June 14, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – AUGUST 10: Odubel Herrera #37 of the Philadelphia Phillies holds onto his helmet as he takes a strike during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on August 10, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

What can the Phillies expect from Odubel Herrera in 2019 after a down season?

Expectations were low when the Phillies drafted Odubel Herrera out of the Rangers organization in the 2014 Rule 5 Draft. An infielder who never played above Double-A, Herrera was a lottery ticket the Phillies were hoping to cash in on.

After moving Herrera from second base to center field, Philadelphia was pleasantly surprised with what they got out of Herrera his rookie year when he posted a .297 batting average with 30 doubles.

Herrera has had a Jekyll and Hyde career with highs and lows equally unmatched, going from an MVP candidate to mindboggling absent in a season.

That’s exactly what Herrera gave Philadelphia in 2018 when he hit a career-high 22 home runs with a career-worst .255 batting average. Herrera hit .343 in his first 27 games and .313 through his first 53, looking like a cornerstone player for the franchise.

After that, it was all downhill for Herrera with a .222 batting average in his last 95 games.

Not only was Herrera inconsistent at the plate, but his defense in the outfield varied between Gold Glove-caliber…

to Little League caliber.

The adventures of Odubel have earned him the nickname Ohdubel every time he makes a play that comes back to burn the Phillies.

Herrera was ordered to come into spring training in better shape for 2019, and this season could be his last opportunity to prove he can be a part of the Phillies next great era.

What can we expect from Herrera and what kind of a role will he play in 2019?

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