A rejuvenated Cody Asche returns, ready to play left field

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Cody Asche wasn’t bitter for too long after he was sent down to Triple A Lehigh Valley on May 11 to learn how to play left field — about two days, by his estimation.

Then again, he wasn’t down in the minors for too long, either.

After only 15 games in the minor leagues, Asche is back in the Phillies’ lineup, this time as the team’s starting leftfielder for Friday's game against the Rockies (see full lineup).

While learning the position on the fly, Asche played a mostly mistake-free left field for the IronPigs. He only committed one error in 24 chances.

“I felt like I was as comfortable as I could be without ever playing in a big league game out there,” Asche said. “Obviously big league hitters are a little different, lineups are different, but as far as game experience, I feel comfortable.

“I’ve had every ball hit to me that could be hit.”

Asche spent his roughly two-week stint in the minors getting as much extra work in as possible. Manager Ryne Sandberg pointed out that Asche would be fielding balls from a machine or off a fungo bat as early as four-and-a-half hours before a night game. Lehigh Valley manager Dave Brundage was hands-on with Asche, as was roving outfield instructor Andy Abad.

The latter name should be familiar. Asche had been working on outfield technique with Abad as early as three weeks before the start of spring training (see story).

With Grady Sizemore designated for assignment and Domonic Brown still in Triple A for the time being, Asche has a wide-open window to prove that he belongs on the Phils’ roster.

“To get that experience [in left field] and do it here at the major league level is a whole different thing,” Sandberg said. “But I think getting those basics out of the way and getting his feet wet gives him a good chance.”

Asche’s promotion gives the Phillies’ outfield situation a bit of clarity.

Odubel Herrera will remain in center field — where he’s already played 47 games this season— while Ben Revere will slide over to right field and split time with Jeff Francoeur. Though a centerfielder by trade, Revere has 96 career games in right field under his belt entering Friday, but only three games at the position since 2012, all of which have come this season. 

And the time Asche spent in the minor leagues — brief as it may have been — may also help him turn around his struggling bat.

In 30 games in the big leagues this year, Asche couldn’t generate much offense, slugging only .349, his worst mark since rookie ball. He was also striking out in a career-worst 28.3 percent of his plate appearances.

But in Triple A, Asche more than halved his strikeout rate (13.4 percent) and logged a solid .295 batting average in 67 plate appearances.

Asche pointed out that the tweaks he made to his hitting approach while in the minors were more mental in nature than physical.

“[I was] getting some rhythm back,” he said. ”Once you get some rhythm back, that kind of irons out some flaws you might have — it levels your swing out a little bit, maybe [makes you] a little more accurate with the barrel.”

If Asche can keep up his hitting pace against major league pitching, then his short sojourn in the minors will have been worth it — even if it didn’t feel that short to him.

“Fifteen games down there feels like two months,” Asche said. “You guys might think it was quick, but it sure didn’t feel like that to me.”

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