The Phillies’ Cesar Hernandez will continue his rehab stint with High-A Clearwater through Monday.
Philadelphia Phillies middle infielder Cesar Hernandez (oblique) was held hitless for a second consecutive rehab game on Thursday night. For High-A Clearwater, the switch-hitting Venezuelan was 0-3 with a walk following an 0-1 outing Wednesday afternoon.
“It feels better,” said Hernandez. “I played five innings yesterday and today I played seven, so I feel great.”
Hernandez was placed on the 10-day DL with a strained oblique on June 11. He was batting .277 with five home runs and 14 RBI in 58 games for Philadelphia.
Due to his month’s absence, the 27-year-old has struggled to regain his timing at the plate.
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“I feel like I’m really lost because I had four weeks, and I was doing nothing,” said Hernandez, who is 0-4 with two strikeouts. “I’m trying to get my timing. But, I will be good.”
On a positive, Hernandez has appeared to have no trouble in the field or on the base paths.
“I feel great for running the bases and catching ground balls.”
Over the last three years, Philadelphia has relied on Hernandez’s production at the top of the lineup. This season, however, he has shown much more power than past campaigns and is projected to swiftly surpass his previous career-high of six home runs.
Despite the increase in homers, Hernandez does not attribute the power surge as something he has focused on in preparation.
“No, I don’t really work on that,” he said. “I work more on getting on base.”
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Hernandez says he will play seven innings again on Friday when the Threshers conclude their four-game homestand at Spectrum Field. After what would be his third consecutive game, he will take Saturday off before playing back-to-back nine-inning games on Sunday and Monday in Daytona. Once that hurdle is cleared, he will be re-evaluated to determine the next step.
“I will wait and see what they got for me.”