Phillies Notes: Rule 5 pick Herndon beat the odds, stayed on the roster

For the first few months of the season, David Herndon plotted every potential roster move. He understood his spot was tenuous, the territory that comes with being a Rule 5 selection. When one of the many injured Phillies relievers was nearing a return from the disabled list, uneasiness set in.

"Early on," Herndon said, "I questioned it a lot."

Yet Herndon is still here and effectively became a permanent member of the Phillies' organization when rosters expanded on Sept. 1. Officially, when the regular season ends Oct. 3, Herndon's status is cemented.

Herndon is just one of two players taken in the 2009 Rule 5 draft who remained in the majors with his original selecting team. The other is Hector Ambriz of Cleveland. Carlos Monasterios was plucked from the Phillies' organization by the Mets in the Rule 5 draft and immediately was sold to the Dodgers, where he remains.

It's difficult for teams to keep their Rule 5 picks. The stipulations say a Rule 5 selection must remain on the major-league active roster (or disabled list) for the entire season or else they must be offered back to their former team.

It's even tougher for a contending team to do it.

"They gave me an opportunity," Herndon said. "That's awesome. Luckily, I pitched well enough to stick."

In 491/3 innings, Herndon has a 4.56 ERA. He has struck out 26 and walked 15 in mostly low-leverage situations. The numbers aren't anything spectacular, but Herndon had never pitched above double-A before this season. He turned 25 on Sept. 4.

"For anybody it's a big jump," pitching coach Rich Dubee said. "That's a heck of a jump."

Herndon was taken from the Los Angeles Angels and came to spring training as a long shot to make the roster. How much did Dubee know about Herndon then?

"Nothing," he said.

The righthander's sinker played well in spring training and impressed the Phillies enough to carry him on the final roster. They were aware of the drawbacks, specifically his inconsistent secondary pitches. But the team liked his arm enough and wanted him in the organization - even if it meant an unusual season of development for the young pitcher.

During the season, when the Phillies went with just one lefthanded pitcher in the bullpen for a prolonged period of time, Dubee said the team had contemplated making a move on Herndon. That never happened.

"I think this year's experience is going to do him a lot of good," Dubee said.

To compensate for a lack of innings this season, Herndon will pitch in winter ball, probably in the Dominican Republic. There, he wants to do work on his slider and change-up, both of which he says are still too inconsistent.

The Phillies likely kept Herndon with an eye toward next year, too. Two relievers - Chad Durbin and Jose Contreras - will be free agents this off-season. Another, J.C. Romero, will likely not have his $4.5 million option picked up by the team.

Herndon said it wasn't until July when he finally stopped worrying about his fate. He said he still doesn't understand the specifics of the Rule 5 guidelines, but is grateful the rarely used process landed him here.

As the season grew longer and roster moves were made, the 17th and final pick of the 2009 Rule 5 draft remained. Each time, he could look around and relax.

"All right," Herndon said, "I'm still here."

Jimmy Rollins (strained right hamstring) took batting practice from the right side of the plate but did not swing at full speed, manager Charlie Manuel said. Rollins has yet to run on the hamstring, Manuel added. . . . The Phillies have not finalized plans to honor Atlanta manager Bobby Cox, 69, during this week's series against the Braves, but will have some sort of ceremony, likely on Wednesday. The three games will be Cox's final ones in Philadelphia - barring a playoff matchup, of course.