Inside the Phillies: 2016 outfield is taking shape

ATLANTA - Incoming Phillies president Andy MacPhail put it well in his last news conference: "You come to September, and the calendar flips to the next baseball season. Other than a team fortunate enough to be setting its postseason roster, right now we should all be about 2016."

This is especially the case for the rebuilding Phillies, who have spent the season giving playing time to younger players to discern which will play a part in the club's future. And as baseball's worst team nears the finish line of a likely 100-loss season, one can begin to pencil names into next year's lineup.

The Phillies' 2016 outfield, for instance, is already taking shape. Barring an injury or an unforeseen development, two outfield spots are already likely accounted for by two potential building blocks who have impressed this season.

Odubel Herrera has been a Rule 5 revelation, the best hitter on the team as a mere 23-year-old in his first year playing above double A. The sample size on Aaron Altherr is much smaller, but the athletic and versatile 24-year-old has flashed his potential over nearly 100 major-league at-bats.

Whether Herrera is the Phillies centerfielder of the future is a question to be answered, but the energetic Venezuelan has perhaps made himself the front-runner in that conversation. Among rookies with at least 400 plate appearances entering Friday, his .296 batting average ranked third, behind only Matt Duffy of the San Francisco Giants (.301) and Billy Burns of the Oakland Athletics (.297.) Herrera's 27 doubles rank second among rookies behind only the Chicago Cubs' Kris Bryant (28).

Herrera will almost certainly open next season as the Phillies' primary centerfielder, the only outfield spot he has played in his first full season as an outfielder. He grades out as the Phillies' best defensive player this season, according to advanced metrics such as defensive runs saved and ultimate zone rating.

Altherr, while only a month into his major-league career, has displayed enough to warrant an extended look next season. Given Domonic Brown's struggles, one could argue Altherr should have been playing every day since July. Although he entered Saturday batting .250, Altherr had compiled an .839 on-base-plus-slugging percentage behind 12 extra-base hits. With deceptive speed and a strong arm, he has shown he can play all three outfield spots, which offers flexibility for whoever manages the Phillies next season.

Last season, when he was still finding his swing after offseason wrist surgery, Altherr hit only .236 at double-A Reading. This year he thrust himself into the conversation as a piece for the future. Next season will help determine whether he is a starter or a fourth or fifth outfielder.

"I'm definitely feeling a little bit more comfortable at the plate now," he said before a recent game. "It just comes with experience and playing more.

"Hopefully I've done pretty well so far, and hopefully I can just continue to keep showing what I can do."

If Herrera and Altherr account for two spots in next year's opening-day outfield, the identity of the corner outfielder to play opposite Altherr is up in the air. Cody Asche, through more than 900 major-league at-bats, has not proven himself a major-league regular. Roman Quinn will be added to the 40-man roster this winter - as protection from the Rule 5 draft - but the speedy centerfielder is not ready for the big leagues. Former second-round draft pick Kelly Dugan underwhelmed in triple A this year.

Whoever begins the season in the outfield with Herrera and Altherr might simply be keeping the seat warm for Nick Williams, who should begin next year in triple A. The organization's top outfield prospect has done nothing but produce since joining the organization as a key part of the Cole Hamels trade. Entering Friday he had three home runs in Reading's Eastern League playoff run.

While questions remain in the young starting rotation, the right side of the infield, and the bullpen, the outfield is an area in which the Phillies have progressed in the first season of their rebuild. The acquisition of Williams and the development of Herrera and Altherr have given the group some hope as the front office turns the calendar to 2016.

kaplanj@phillynews.com

@jakemkaplan