Big 2012 turned Asche into Phillies' 3B of the future

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When the Phillies set out to address their hole at third base this offseason they looked mostly for a player who would be a short-term fit. Michael Young, signed through 2013, ended up being that guy.The Phillies preferred not to make a long-term commitment to a new third baseman because they believe they have one percolating in the minors. The Phils have not had a homegrown third baseman since Scott Rolen.They hope Cody Asche can eventually be that guy.Asche, 22, forced his way into the teams plans with a brilliant season in the minors in 2012. He opened the season in the single A Florida State League and earned a promotion to Double A in June. For the season, he hit .324 with 33 doubles, six triples, 12 homers and 72 RBIs in 130 games. His on-base percentage was .369 and he slugged .481.Asche did not come out of nowhere. It just seems that way.He was a fourth-round pick by the Phils out of the University of Nebraska in 2011. That summer, the Phils sent him to Single A Williamsport, where he hit just .192 and slugged .264 in 239 at-bats. One team official said Asche had a dead bat that season.Not for long.A 6-1, 185-pound left-handed hitter, Asche reported to the Florida Instructional League in the fall of 2011 and resurrected his bat. He made improvements on his swing load, using his hands and legs more. The results showed in spring training 2012 and team officials decided to fast-track him and send him to the Florida State League instead of the South Atlantic League. By the end of June, Asche was in Reading, where he hit .300 and slugged .513 in 68 games games for the Phillies Double A club.Reading manager Dusty Wathan was not surprised by Asches quick rise.Not at all, Wathan said. I love the guy. Hes a very focused and driven player who works hard at the game and plays hard. Hes a throwback guy.Wathan believes Asche benefitted from his difficult 2011 season, and believes Asche will continue to benefit from it in years to come.I think one of the great things thats going to help him in his career is the struggles he had in Williamsport his first year when he hit .190, Wathan said. When a guy can overcome that, its something. He made adjustments and found success. He stuck with it. Failure can be a plus in this game. All these guys are going to fail somewhere along the line, whether its A ball, Double A, or the major leagues. At some point in time youre going to have a couple of bad months or thats going to be the peak of your career. With a guy having it so early in his career and being able to overcome it -- I think its going to be a tremendous asset to his career.There was one other thing that may have helped awaken Asches game in 2012.He played second base at Williamsport in 2011 as prospects Harold Martinez and Maikel Franco got most of the time at third. In 2012, Asche moved back to third base, the position he played in college.I dont think second was the perfect fit for me, Asche said in a recent interview. Going back to third felt more natural.From a season in which he hit .192 to a season in which he became the Phillies third baseman of the future, it was all a whirlwind for Asche.Things can happen fast, he said. You know that going into pro ball. Anything can happen. Looking back at my season, I think that proves that theory.Asche was not surprised that he rebounded so well in 2012.You have to stay confident in yourself and know that it wasnt just one of those seasons, that this is who you are as a player, he said. This is the player I think I am in my mind. Part of being a good player is having confidence in yourself.Its unclear where Asche will play in 2013. He could go back to Double A for a stint and work his way to Triple A. That will be determined in spring training. Regardless, Asche, like all players on the rise, has work to do in his development.The big questions in his game revolve around power and defense.Wathan, who also managed Asche in the Arizona Fall League, offered his opinion on both.Hes got a chance to be an everyday third baseman, Wathan said. His timetable, I dont know. But I think he will be an everyday guy.For some reason his defense has gotten knocked at third base. I disagree with a lot of people. I think hes going to be a good third baseman in the major leagues. We played him at second (in 2011) to get him at-bats and sometimes it takes time to get adjusted back at your original position.And the offense?Hes a guy who can hit, Wathan said. He makes a lot of contact. Hes still a young hitter who just finished his first full season of pro ball. He hits a lot of doubles and a lot of times power is the last thing to come. If you look at a hitter, I want a guy like this whos going to hit doubles, one who hits the gaps and eventually will be able to drive the ball out of the park.Asche hails from suburban St. Louis, but his family has deep Nebraska roots. He is a proud Cornhusker.I bleed Nebraska red, he said.Someday, he might bleed Phillies red.I have to keep improving my skill set, Asche said. Hopefully I can do that and put the organization in a good position. If you keep progressing, there will be opportunities.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com.

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