LAKELAND, Fla. – In the bottom of the sixth inning, Cedric Hunter sprinted deep into the gap in right-center to take away extra bases from Miguel Cabrera.
A half-inning later, he pulled a no-doubt-about-it home run over the right-field wall against lefty Blaine Hardy.
“You just want to prove you can do all elements of the game,” said the 28-year-old outfielder, in Phillies camp on a minor-league contract.
Hunter is entering his 11th professional season, but has played in just six major-league games, all with San Diego as a 23-year-old in April 2011.
He is eager to get back to the majors and might just get his shot with the Phillies, who seem to be getting thinner in the outfield by the day.
“He’s been impressive,” manager Pete Mackanin said of Hunter. “I like what I’ve seen. He’s got an aggressive approach at the plate.”
Hunter keyed the Phillies’ 4-3 win over the Detroit Tigers on Monday with a two-run homer in the seventh inning. It was the latest big hit for the lefty-hitting Hunter. He doubled in a run against Houston fireballer Ken Giles on Sunday. Two days before that, he tripled and singled.
MLB
For the spring, Hunter is hitting .302 with four doubles, a triple and three homers. He has knocked in 10 runs.
Hunter was the Padres’ third-round pick in the 2006 draft. At one point as a young minor-leaguer, he was rated as that club’s top prospect. He made the Padres’ big-league team out of spring training in 2011 and singled in his first official big-league at-bat. That is still his only big-league hit. He had just three more plate appearances before being sent to the minors, where he’s been ever since.
In recent seasons, Hunter has played in the Cleveland and Atlanta systems. He hit .283 with 12 homers, 77 RBIs and a .751 OPS in 138 games for Atlanta’s Triple A team last year.
The Phillies signed Hunter this winter to provide depth at Triple A. But with Aaron Altherr, Cody Asche and Odubel Herrera all hurting, he’s played himself into strong consideration to make the club.
“I know the opportunity is there,” he said. “But you can never assume anything because that can affect you on the field. I haven’t gotten anything yet.”
What if he does?
“That’s everybody’s dream,” he said. “It would definitely be a blessing. I feel this round would be a lot better than the last. I was young then. I’m a lot more mature now.”
Lough impresses
Like Hunter, non-roster outfielder David Lough is under consideration to make the club. The lefty-hitting Lough has played in the majors with the Royals and Orioles parts of the last four seasons.
Lough had a double, a walk and a sacrifice bunt in Monday’s game. He is hitting .310 (9 for 29) with two doubles, a homer and four RBIs.
Nola sharpens up
Aaron Nola had his second good start in a row. He held the Tigers to two hits and a run over six innings. He walked two and struck out five.
Reliever David Hernandez saw his first Grapefruit League action since March 1. He allowed a double and a triple.
Hernandez was slowed by triceps tendinitis early in camp. He hit 93 on the radar gun and says he feels healthy.
“My fastball command wasn’t there, but I felt good,” Hernandez said. “I need work on getting ahead of hitters.”
Hernandez is likely in line to open the season on time. It’s unclear if he will be the team’s closer, however.
“I just want to be healthy, get outs and help us win,” he said.
Announcement coming
Mackanin said he would probably announce his opening day starter in a day or two. Jeremy Hellickson or Nola will get the call. Hellickson lines up to pitch that day. If Nola starts the second game of the season, he could come back and pitch the home opener.
Up next
Jerad Eickhoff starts in Clearwater on Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins. Vince Velasquez will pitch in a minor-league game.
The Phillies are 14-5-2.