Herrera trumpets the new him after spring debut

First impressions being what they are via Zoom chats, none other than Odubel Herrera appeared as a very different person on Phillies media laptop screens Tuesday.

Herrera had just gone 1-for-3 with a stolen base in his first taste of spring training action, a 4-2 Grapefruit League loss to the Toronto Blue Jays in Dunedin, Fla.

Just an early exhibition, of course. But no less meaningful for Herrera, even if it didn’t likely change the fact that he has a slim if any shot of heading north with the big club he once had a blast playing for when this camp breaks ahead of an April 1 season opener.

Herrera is a non-roster invitee to Clearwater, mainly because the Phillies are still contractually obligated to pay him $10 million this season. He last played for them in 2019, before he took his then 20-year-old girlfriend Melany Martinez-Angulo to Atlantic City for a quick Memorial Day weekend getaway that ended with Herrera being charged with a domestic assault after an incident outside the Golden Nugget casino.

That and everything coronavirus has left Herrera with a big empty spot on his baseball resume.

He last played for the Phils on May 26, 2019, but after the domestic violence arrest was suspended for the remainder of the season under Major League Baseball’s domestic violence policy. Eventually, the charges against Herrera were dismissed, with his girlfriend not seeking pursuit of legal action. Herrera was assigned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley in January of 2020, but that mgue season would never get under way.

On the Zoom chat, he was ready to answer any and all questions concerning what he called a “big mistake,” what he says is his mended relationship with Martinez-Angulo, and his professional and personal goals for this year.

First, though ... a contrite confession from a guy who used to be more than a little too fun-loving on the field.

“I just want to say about what I did in 2019, I feel sorry because I make a big mistake,” Herrera said at the top of the interview. “I know some people are not going to forgive me and I understand that. But I spent the last two years earning Melany’s trust back, and I am grateful because she forgave me. Now I would like the same opportunity with my teammates, our fans and the Phillies family. Thank you.”

Before the game, Herrera had addressed the players that had bused down to Dunedin with him. He says he will soon meet with other team members, and locker room leaders like Bryce Harper, Rhys Hoskins and J.T. Realmuto in an effort to fully earn back their trust, too.

“I don’t think anybody would condone what happened a couple of years ago,” Hoskins said recently of his ex-teammate Herrera. “Everyone knows he’s going to have to earn the clubhouse’s trust back; I think he knows that as well. I think that’s what we’re going to focus on as a group.

“Everyone’s going to react differently to a situation like this. Maybe some guys have something like this in their past and it cuts a little deeper, some guys may also believe everybody deserves a second chance if they’ve proven they can move on. I don’t know how it’s going to play out.”

Even in winter ball this year, Herrera played only one game, and yet here he was, saying he was confident he could return to the team in which he put in four-plus seasons as an outfielder with a streaky yet frequently effective bat, earning one All-Star game appearance.

Now 29, he has hit camp sans the blonde-dyed dreds and constant freewheeling smile of old. That look, he could say, is gone because he is older.

“I learned a lot, about how I can be a better person,” Herrera said. “My relationship right now with Melany is better. I feel more mature and I would like to continue like that.

“I just want to play baseball, have fun, play my game and help this team win . ... I have to be serious, you know, and like a fun guy at the same time. But I’d like to keep it straight and focus on my game. It’s good to be a better player and better person.”

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS