The Phillies, at this time last season, started Emmanuel Burriss and Peter Bourjos in the corner outfield spots. They dumped Cedric Hunter to add David Lough. Tyler Goeddel appeared in the lineup once or twice a week. It was supposed to be Aaron Altherr's time; the Phillies had resisted acquiring more veteran stopgaps because Altherr did enough in the final six weeks of 2015 to warrant playing time.
His wrist injury scuttled it. But, even after the Phillies spent $19 million to fortify the corners last winter, Altherr has found regular at-bats in 2017. He has thrived at a time when the Phillies remain noncommittal toward who belongs and who does not.