Phillies' future on display

JAYSON WERTH swung and connected. Cesar Hernandez broke back and to his left, a little late, hesitant, but it was the right break to make. It was an imperfect play, but understandably so: After all, this was only the 22nd game Hernandez had ever played in any outfield.

He sped on the correct line, surged for the last few steps and ran the ball down near with frighteningly little effort, stopping with comical grace on the warning track.

Hernandez gave a late-arriving crowd Monday a thrill to end the first inning of a game meaningless except for this; meaningless, except for him.

It will be a black September for Phillies fans, now spoiled to expect postseason positioning as summer turns to fall. Instead, they will glimpse the future, if they are wise: Hernandez, Darin Ruf, Cody Asche, Freddy Galvis, Jake Diekman.

The Phillies might have an unhealthy, underachieving, $170 million payroll, but they also have a handful of players they hope will improve them where it matters most. This September is a preview of next March, without the hassle of getting to and from Clearwater.

And, of course, there are plenty of good seats available.

From his box, general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr. can spend a month judging, firsthand, what he has as he enters next season's equally high expectations.

"We expect to be competitive every season, and this was a disappointment. But I'm looking forward to seeing not only how they handle it production-wise, but how they handle it mentally. There's a much higher level of stress when you come to the major leagues. A different level of expectation, and a different level of baseball," Amaro said. "We will try to assess how they can help us do in 2014 and beyond."

Monday night meant roster-expansion call-ups, among them Galvis, who got into 112 games playing four positions in the past two seasons. The team sent him back down for more seasoning, and he proved two things: he can field any position, but he might never hit. At 23, he seems destined for a career as a utility replacement, especially since middle infielders Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley probably will be around for 2 more years.

That's also why Hernandez, 23, a second baseman, moved to centerfield in July; he needs to be in the majors.

Hernandez hit .302 in 240 games over the past two minor league seasons in Double A and Triple A, with 43 doubles, 21 triples, 54 steals. He also walked 42 times in 107 games this season, buoying his on-base percentage to .378, almost 50 points higher than 2012.

"He has ability," Amaro said. "A switch-hitter who can hit effectively from both sides. He can run. He's learning how to play the outfield. Play second base. Steal a base. He's got some elements in his game of major league caliber."

So does Ruf, who hit nine home runs in August even as he transitioned from first base to right and leftfield, anticipating the return next season of slugger Ryan Howard. A doughy 6-3 and 220 pounds, his appearance belies his athleticism.

"Ruffy has acquitted himself fairly well in the outfield. But he's a first baseman. He's not going to be a Gold Glover in the outfield. But he's a righthanded bat with power; it's pretty neat to see that," said Amaro, who hasn't had righthanded power since Jayson Werth left after the 2010 season. "You can dream a little bit about how he might be able to produce down the road."

Ruf, 27, is, like Howard, a college player come late to the majors.

Asche, 23, was more prepared than either of them when he was drafted out of college. Where Ruf recalls Howard, Asche clearly recalls Utley, or maybe a player of even greater gifts who played the position for the Phillies: Third base has been a position in limbo since Scott Rolen was traded more than a decade ago.

An immediate revelation in the field, it took Asche about 3 weeks to situate himself at the plate. He entered last night hitting .333 in his last 10 games.

"Cody, I think, is going to be a real good baseball player," Amaro said. "He's really improved defensively. He's polished. He's going to be a pretty good hitter. He's got a chance to really swing the bat. He's going to go through some growing pains. It takes him a little while to adjust, as it does at every level for him."

Amaro continually harps on the adjustment factor, on the time it takes a player to become comfortable enough to produce.

Hard-throwing, giant righthander Phillipe Aumont has yet to adjust, and he was not called up Monday.

Hard-throwing lefthander Diekman, 26, adjusted, it seems, after almost 60 outings over the past two seasons. He entered last night having allowed just five hits and a walk with 14 strikeouts in his last 10 games (10 innings). He could be at least an answer against lefthanded hitters, who are hitting .173 against him. With greater command of his three-quarter delivery, which lets him release the ball behind the hitter's head, it seems, he could be much more.

"He's gaining confidence in himself. Throwing 97-99 mph. Starting to throw more consistent strikes," Amaro said. "It can't be comfortable for any lefthander in the box, with the way he throws, with his angle. He's got a bright future."

And that's just a taste.

Catcher Cameron Rupp and lefthander Mauricio Robles should see some time in the next few weeks.

The Phillies resisted calling up 21-year-old third baseman Maikel Franco, their top prospect, who hit a combined .320 with 31 homers, 103 RBI and 36 doubles in 134 Double A and Class A games. The Phillies yesterday named him their minor league player of the year.

"He may be one of the best hitters we have in our organization, if not the best hitter we have in our organization," Amaro said. "Really, it's about opportunities and whether it makes sense to bring him at this stage. Is it his time?"

Perhaps not. Perhaps another season of Dominican winter ball and 80 games in 2014 facing Triple A offpseed pitches would better serve Franco, who is adding first base to his résumé.

The same way Hernandez added centerfield to his.

"There's some things to be excited about with our younger players," Amaro said.

Understand, though, it will not be pristine baseball this September.

For instance: Ruf short-hopped a throw home Sunday in Chicago that catcher Erik Kratz failed to handle. The hop should have been a little longer.

Monday night, the Nationals scored the go-ahead run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly to centerfield, and Hernandez displayed an arm that clearly belongs to a second baseman.

Hernandez also drew a two-out walk, then scored from first base on a double to tie the game in the bottom of the eighth.

On Sunday, Ruf's solo home run accounted for all of the Phillies' scoring.

The Phillies might not be making a run to another Red October, but September doesn't have to be a total blackout.

On Twitter: @inkstainedretch

Blog: ph.ly/DNL