Phils' Herrera becoming a more disciplined hitter
Odubel Herrera left Philadelphia last October, officially ending his rookie season. He flew to his hometown in central Venezuela. And for three months - the longest period of his career - Herrera did not play baseball. He spent time with family and friends. He visited a mural painted of him in his town. He shopped. Herrera did anything but play baseball.
Odubel Herrera left Philadelphia last October, officially ending his rookie season. He flew to his hometown in central Venezuela. And for three months - the longest period of his career - Herrera did not play baseball. He spent time with family and friends. He visited a mural painted of him in his town. He shopped. Herrera did anything but play baseball.
It was during his time away that Herrera stepped back and reflected on his first season in the major leagues. He was the Phillies best hitter in 2015, but there was a call to improve. Herrera, 24, wanted to enter his second season with a patient approach. The wild hitter hoped to be restrained. His father told him to stop striking out. He planned to grind out at-bats and make pitchers work.
Herrera's reflections have thus far turned into reality. He leads the majors with 15 walks. He has seen a major-league high 332 pitches. Herrera is also first with 5.03 pitches per plate appearance, a mark that is more than one pitch higher than last season. The batter's reckless swing has been curbed. The lefthanded batter is chasing less pitches that are out of the strike zone. And he is reaching base at a higher rate.
"I feel like I'm learning a lot because now I recognize the strike zone more. That's what I've been working on. It's paying off," Herrera said through an interpreter. "I feel like I'm able to recognize the strike zone way better than I was able to last year."
Herrera played the first two weeks of the season with the approach of a leadoff hitter. Manager Pete Mackanin inserted him into the batting order's No. 1 spot on Wednesday for the first time this season. Herrera's new mind-set could keep him at the top.
Mackanin said Herrera has a knack for hitting. Just when a pitcher thinks they have Herrera, Mackanin said the batter slaps a single to right field. Hitting coach Steve Henderson and base coach Juan Samuel talked to Herrera last season about being more selective.
According to FanGraphs, Herrera is swinging at 24-percent of pitches that are outside the strike zone. That rate is 11-percent lower than last season. And the pitches he is chasing are pitches he believes he can hit. Herrera is making contact on 67.5 percent of those outside pitches, a number that is six-percent higher than last season.
"Hitting is like riding a bike. You have to learn it on your own," Mackanin said. "You can't be taught how to ride a bike or to ice skate or roller skate. You have to get out there and feel it. 'If I do this, I'm going to fall. So I'm not going to do that anymore.' That type of mentality. As much as you coach someone, they still have to go up there and do it."
Herrera's ability to read the strike zone helps him stretch out his at-bats. He enters Friday's game in Milwaukee with at least one walk in seven straight games.
He walked just 28 times last season in 537 plate appearances. He averaged one walk last season per 19.17 plate appearances. Herrera is averaging to walk this season once every 4.4 plate appearances. His current pace will have him surpass last season's walk total in about two more weeks.
Herrera takes pride in his walks. He pumped his fist after earning one on Sunday. He worked a walk last week and flipped his bat into the air before racing to first base. His offseason reflections were working. And Herrera was enjoying his success.
"I get a kick out of a guy that is happy when he gets a walk," Mackanin said. "If someone has a problem with a guy flipping a bat when he walks, then I agree with Bryce Harper. Let him enjoy it."
@matt_breen www.philly.com/philliesblog