Philadelphia Phillies: 3 underrated players from rebuilding era

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Starting pitcher Alec Asher #49, pitching coach Bob McClure #22, and Cameron Rupp #29 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Drew Hallowell/Getty Images) /

While the rebuilding era is one most Philadelphia Phillies’ fans would like to forget, let’s take a look back at some of the lone bright spots.

Baseball is sorely missed right now, especially with the anticipation of what was expected to be an improved Philadelphia Phillies team. Unfortunately, there’s nothing that we can do except stay home to protect ourselves and protect others during this global pandemic with the MLB season suspended.

We can still watch the re-airs of some of the best Phillies games in recent history on TV and dream about what could’ve been this year with Bryce Harper under manager Joe Girardi and hitting coach Joe Dillon. There are also still the MLB The Show simulations to watch, and we can marvel at the absurd numbers the Phillies’ virtual lineup can put up.

However, it doesn’t replace the adrenaline rush that Phillies fans are longing to feel again. Watching games and highlights from 2007-2011 brings back the memories of the record crowds, the rally towels, and the city that was all in on baseball. Witnessing that era begin to fade away was painful, especially when the Phillies held on to players like Jimmy Rollins and Ryan Howard but the production was not there anymore.

That led to the full-scale rebuild from 2015-2017. While the Phillies still missed the playoffs in 2018 and 2019, they made moves indicating they were ready to compete and were in the playoff race for most of those seasons. They weren’t nearly as disgraceful as the 2015-2017 seasons were. However, it was still the best course of action since the Phillies needed to build a core of younger players.

To say the least, it had been a while since the Phillies had to suffer through painful seasons like this. This era tested the loyalty of true fans. Those who did remain faithful to the team were rewarded with a few bright spots despite the dreadful experience.

These players gave Phillies fans hope that they could make it through this era. While they likely won’t be remembered by most fans, they still helped the young players learn how to win and helped transition this team to a playoff contender.

Let’s take a look at three underrated players from the rebuild era:

Jeff Francoeur #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) /

Outfielder Jeff Francoeur

Yes, this was the same guy whose throw from right field landed three feet in front of him. Yet, Jeff Francoeur was still a productive player with the Phillies in 2015. Fielding might not have been his strong suit, but he could get it done at the plate. The Phillies were one of the eight teams that the 12-year journeyman played for throughout his career.

Even though he was primarily in a bench role during his time in Philly, he still started occasionally and played in 118 total games. In 326 at-bats and 343 plate appearances, he slashed .258/.286/.433 and collected 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, 16 doubles, one triple, and 34 runs scored. Not too shabby for a veteran whose career was winding down.

Not only that, but he had a flair for the dramatic in 2015:

If that’s not enough to convince you, check out this absolute laser from right field:

These highlights aren’t even as impressive as Francoeur’s go-ahead home run in the 10th inning of a win against the 97-win Chicago Cubs. In 90 at-bats in which the game was tied, he hit .267/.302/.489 with four home runs, 15 RBIs, and eight doubles. He was one of the more reliable pinch hitters for the Phillies in recent years.

Francoeur provided extra value as a clubhouse presence. It seemed like he was always smiling and keeping the Phillies’ locker room filled with positive energy. Going through last-place seasons like this is not easy, but it’s important for young guys to learn to keep their heads up for the future. A lot can happen in a 162-game season.

Jeff led by example by the way he carried himself which goes beyond his performance on the field. He’s a class act. Not many guys are willing to throw 48 pitches to save the bullpen during a 19-3 blowout loss but Francoeur stepped up and did what he could. His veteran leadership should be one of the few things to remember from this era.

Howie Kendrick #47 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Utilityman Howie Kendrick

While Howie Kendrick only played in 39 games as a Phillie, he was another productive veteran leader who left an impact on the team. Howie is a passionate player and a hard worker who led by example. In the end, he had plenty of value at the trade deadline and had to be dealt to a team while the opportunity was there. His time here was short, but he still gave Phillies fans some memories during his short tenure in Philly.

In his 141 at-bats and 156 plate appearances in the 2017 season, he hit .340/.397/.454 with two home runs, 16 RBIs, eight doubles, eight stolen bases, 48 hits, and sixteen runs scored. If he had played a full 162-game season in Philly, he would’ve finished with about eight home runs, 66 RBIs, 33 stolen bases, 199 hits, and 66 runs scored.

There is no guarantee he would’ve been consistent throughout the entire season, but he still had a more than respectable tenure in Philly. Some days it seemed like he was guaranteed to do something productive every time he came up to the plate such as when he went 3 for 5 with four RBIs in a 17-3 win over the Washington Nationals. Kendrick was also a versatile player. He played left field, second base, and first base for the ‘Phils’ and batted in almost every spot in the lineup.

Sometimes we don’t appreciate what we have until it’s gone. After he left Philly, it was expected that the veteran might start to show some signs of age but that didn’t happen. Howie continued to lead by example for the young guys on the Nationals and it turned out way better than both sides could’ve imagined.

In his past few regular seasons in that nation’s capital, he’s played in 213 games with 650 at-bats and 707 plate appearances, and he’s slashed .322/.367/.529. This year they ended up on top with a World Series Championship and Kendrick was the NLCS MVP. He finished the 2019 postseason with a .286/.328/.444 line, two home runs, 12 RBIs, four doubles, and eight runs scored in 17 games.

Howie’s productivity and work ethic kept Phillies fans interested in the first half of the year and gave them something to cheer about. Everywhere he goes, he gets the job done in some fashion. He was easily one of the most exciting players from this era that went unnoticed.

Daniel Nava #25 of the Philadelphia Phillies (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) /

Outfielder Daniel Nava

In 2017, the Phillies signed a former World Series champion to a minor-league deal. Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Daniel Nava made the most of it and earned a spot on the opening day roster. This season would end up being the most recent action he saw in the major leagues. He didn’t waste this opportunity.

Nava introduced himself to Phillies’ fans as soon as possible with two home runs on opening day:

He suffered injuries towards the end of the year that cut his season short but that didn’t take away from what he had already done during the season as a valuable bench piece. In 80 games, the switch hitter accumulated just 183 at-bats and 214 plate appearances. His production wasn’t mind-blowing, but he still finished with four home runs, 21 RBIs, eight doubles, 55 hits, 21 runs, and a .301/.393/.421 line with inconsistent playing time.