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Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez proving he's more than just a placeholder

Hernandez knows the Phillies have minor-league prospects at second base. It is his job to hold them off.

CHICAGO - Last season ended and Cesar Hernandez did something he had never done. He didn't go home.

The Phillies second baseman went to Miami instead of Venezuela. It would be the best way, Hernandez figured, to prepare for the most important season of his career. Hernandez knows the Phillies have minor-league prospects at second base. It is his job to hold them off.

So he grinded at a gym near the beach and fine-tuned his swing at an indoor cage. Most important, Hernandez focused on himself.

"I used to go back to Venezuela and play winter ball there," Hernandez said. "So, I would never rest. I would never take a break. I decided to stay with my family and spend time with them in the States. And just work out hard. The good thing about staying in the States is that you know you're going to be able to just go to the gym for a couple hours, work hard, and then go home and relax and rest."

The 26-year-old is proving that he may be more than just a placeholder. Hernandez responded to the hype around prospects Scott Kingery and Jesmuel Valentin by turning in the best month of his career. He entered Friday leading National League second baseman in batting average (.336), runs (25), and hits (39.) Hernandez is second in total bases (60) and third in on-base percentage (.379) and OPS (.896).

"I don't feel pressure," Hernandez said. "I don't play with pressure. I just come to the ballpark to have fun. I play with a lot of energy and that's what I've been doing."

Manager Pete Mackanin cracked that Hernandez's season is the result of a motivational speech he gave him. The manager recalled the first time he saw Hernandez when the second baseman was a teenager in major-league spring training during the Phillies' recent glory years.

"Cesar was a shy, young kid with not a lot of confidence. Ability, but no confidence," Mackanin said. "I've seen him grow over the years into a solid major-league player. It took quite a while for him to play with the confidence he's playing with now. It was just a succession of events that got him to where he's at now."

Hernandez was batting just .248 last June when Mackanin was forced to bench him. The player never looked like more of a placeholder than he did then as he sat in the dugout for two games in Minnesota. But Hernandez responded. He batted .327 in the season's final 87 games with a .421 on-base percentage. He said he never doubted himself and knew things would work out. But his confidence was finally apparent. Hernandez carried it with him to that gym in Miami and then to spring training and now to his most important season.

"It just takes time," Mackanin said. "Sometimes guys get on the scene and they're ready. Other guys, it takes a while to get to where Caesar is right now. He just exudes confidence."

Kingery and Valentin were able to impress Mackanin during their time in major-league camp. The manager said then that Kingery looked to be on the fast track to the majors. Valentin ended up being the 26th man on a 25-man roster, nearly making the team as a backup infielder.

Their success continued in the minor leagues. Kingery, 23, entered Friday batting .291 with six homers and 18 RBIs in his first 86 at-bats at double-A Reading. Valentin, who will turn 23 next Friday, was batting .333 in his first 42 at-bats but has since fallen into a slump with four hits in his last 33 at-bats at triple-A Lehigh Valley. Even lower is 19-year-old Daniel Brito, who entered Friday batting .324 with a .370 on-base percentage in 111 at-bats at low-A Lakewood.

To further complicate Hernandez's future, J.P. Crawford will likely reach the majors sometime this season and take over at shortstop for Freddy Galvis. It once seemed that Galvis would slide to second base, but Hernandez's play since last June should keep him at second and move Galvis to a utility role. His biggest challenge will come from the prospects.

And a year ago, it seemed almost certain that one of the prospects would be the second baseman of the future. That still may be the case. But Hernandez is making sure he has the last word.

"I want to be the second baseman of the future," Hernandez said. "I think it's important that they see me as a good player and appreciate my effort. But obviously, it's not up to me. It's their decision. If they see the results of my work, then that's great. But I can't control it."

mbreen@phillynews.com

@matt_breen www.philly.com/

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