Great Cesar's ghost, look out for Hernandez

After being signed as a 16-year-old in 2006, second baseman Cesar Hernandez looked like an impact player from Day 1.

Blowing through the lower levels of the Phillies' minor league system year after year, an impressive season for the team's short-season Class A affiliate, the Williamsport Crosscutters provided him with an unexpected promotion.

After hitting .325 for Williamsport in 65 games, Hernandez was moved directly to high-Class A at Clearwater the next season, skipping a stint in lower-A Lakewood. It was there Hernandez finally hit a bump in the road in 2011, hitting just .268 and driving in 37 runs for the Threshers. These numbers were not bad by any stretch, but weren't necessarily what young Hernandez was looking for.

It turns out all he needed to do was reach back into his roots to make the leap to the next level.

Hernandez, a native of Valencia, Venezuela, received a rare opportunity this past offseason. He played in the Liga Venezuela Beisbol Profesional, commonly known as Venezuelan winter ball, a destination for top major league prospects as well as current and former big-leaguers. After appearing for the Bravos de Margarita just 14 times in 2010, he played an entire season in Venezuela in 2011. His numbers were no better than his season in Clearwater, posting a .259 batting average with four RBI in 36 games. But facing an enhanced level of competition and learning lessons from his major league teammates were invaluable.

"Winter ball really helped me because in Venezuela there are a lot of big-leaguers that play," Hernandez said through pitcher Jordan Whatcott, who served as translator. "I was able to talk to them every day and they helped to teach me things whenever I asked questions."

Playing on the Bravos with Hernandez were Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Henry Blanco, a journeyman who has played 14 major league seasons with nine teams, and Alberto Gonzalez, a Texas Rangers n infielder who is in his sixth major league season. Hernandez says the lessons he learned from Gonzalez, with whom he often shared the infield, led him to become a better defensive player.

"Alberto Gonzalez has helped me a lot with my defense, but both Gonzalez and Blanco have helped me become a more complete player," Hernandez said. "Just being able to talk to them and they tell me to try different things, it's helped me have success."

His experiences in Venezuela garnered instant results. Hernandez was promoted to Double A Reading to start the 2012 season and did not disappoint, hitting .304 and knocking in 51 runs in 103 games before he was called up to Triple A this past week. He also had 26 doubles and led the Eastern League with 11 triples, and was named a midseason All-Star for his efforts.

"He's really exceeded everybody's expectations this year. If you told me that he was going to have double-digit triples and more than 20 doubles and hit over .300 the whole year and play the defense he has I think a lot of people would have thought if he does that it would be something special. It's been a special season for him," Reading Phillies manager Dusty Wathan said. "Playing in winter ball, the crowds are big, you get excited. I think him having that type of experience will help him going forward."

The 22-year-old was promoted to Lehigh Valley along with catcher Sebastian Valle when the Phillies' minor league rosters were shuffled following the trades of Shane Victorino and Hunter Pence. Hernandez started his first game for the IronPigs Thursday, and went 1-for-3. He also is a member of the Phillies' 40-man roster, and could receive a call to the majors in September.

"I think he just needs to continue to progress," Wathan said. "He's still a young guy and one of the biggest things for him will be to focus. All he has to do is focus on the task at hand and not let the game get away from him. If he does that, he has the chance to be a good big-league ballplayer."

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