CLEARWATER, Fla. - Despite having just 12 plate appearances coming into Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Baltimore Orioles, Odubel Herrera sure looked locked-in.
He singled, doubled and homered on his way to a four-RBI day in the Phillies' 11-4 win.
Opening day is Thursday.
"I'm ready," Herrera said. "I want to start the year hot. I want to get going quickly. It's important to the team and it's important to me."
Herrera missed significant time early in camp, first with a hamstring injury then a flu bug that visited a number of players this spring.
Herrera offered up Sunday's performance at the plate as proof that he didn't just sit around the athletic trainer's room for three weeks before playing in his first Grapefruit League game March 16.
Sports
In partnership with NBC Sports Philadelphia
He worked in the batting cage, seeing pitches and fine-tuning his swing.
He worked in the weight room.
He also did some between-the-ears work.
While his mates were on the field, he spent some time in the video room with Geoff Miller, the team's mental skills coach.
"We did exercises where I could visualize the game and kind of not lose time, as if I was still playing," Herrera said through Diego Ettedgui, the team's Spanish-language translator.
According to Herrera, Miller cued up videos of some of Herrera's stellar performances last season.
"Maybe we'd watch a really good at-bat that I had in a game," Herrera said. "He'd ask me to go through the at-bat. ‘What were you thinking in the at-bat? What was your approach? Try to visualize yourself in that moment again. How can you repeat what you did there because you were successful?' Little tactics to build confidence."
Herrera, 27, is one of the Phillies' most talented players. He made the NL All-Star team in 2016 and signed a five-year, $30.5 million contract extension later that year. In addition to being talented, however, Herrera is also inconsistent. Last season was a case in point. He hit .361 with a .989 OPS in his first 40 games. Over the final two months of the season, he hit just .189 with a .530 OPS and lost playing time to Roman Quinn.
Herrera's poor finish last season earned him a mandate from general manager Matt Klentak and manager Gabe Kapler: Get into better physical shape. Herrera reported to camp down 20 pounds in February. The bosses also wanted to see Herrera become more focused mentally. Herrera said he's embracing the mental side of the game more now.
"I feel like I need to take advantage of everything that can help me or the team," he said.
Kapler has seen improved focus in Herrera's behind-the-scenes work this spring - and on the field Sunday.
"It's really interesting how his performance coincides with his engagement so strongly," Kapler said. "When he's locked in from every angle, he just plays great baseball. He looks like one of the best players on the field all the time and I think that's what is happening right now for him.
"We want to maintain this level of focus. It's wonderful to do it in spring training. Our expectation is that he continues to maintain that focus and concentration and that high level of play throughout the season."
If Herrera needs a reason to be motivated to maintain his sharp mental focus, there is one getting at-bats at the minor-league complex. Quinn will open the season on the disabled list, but he won't be out long. There is no landing spot in left or right field for Herrera. Andrew McCutchen and Bryce Harper are going to play. If Herrera wants to stay in the lineup, he has to lock down the center field job with more performances like Sunday's.
We'll begin finding out if he can do that Thursday.
"I feel like this will be a really good year for me and the Phillies and hopefully we can make something special happen," Herrera said.
Click here to download the MyTeams App by NBC Sports! Receive comprehensive coverage of your teams and stream the Flyers, Sixers and Phillies games easily on your device.
