Philadelphia Phillies midseason report card: Grading the offense
By David Esser
Odubel Herrera: D
He provided a much-needed boost to the center field position early on in May, but since then, Odubel’s been a bit of a disaster at the plate. HIs batting average is down to .241 and his on-base percentage .292, making him somewhat unplayable anywhere near the top of the lineup. CF remains a big-time need for the Phillies moving forward.
Bryce Harper: A
Unless you’re some sort of “RBI truther,” Bryce Harper should have been an All-Star this season. He hit .278 with an OPS just south of .900 during the first half of the season, and currently ranks top-25 in all of baseball in OBP, SLG, and OPS.
He’s battled some injury concerns this year (most notably a fastball right to the face), but it was ultimately a very strong first half for Harper. He continues to be an elite offensive talent for the Philadelphia Phillies, and one of the best pure hitters in baseball.
Brad Miller: B
Brought back to Philly this past offseason to be the “first bat off the bench,” Brad Miller continues to be a fan-favorite around the city. He hit nine home runs and drove in 25 RBIs during limited at-bats in the first half of the season, and should hopefully see more everyday action moving forward into August and September.
His three home run game against the Cubs was a thing of beauty.