After being acquired in a mid-season trade with the Houston Astros, Hunter Pence hit 11 home runs, drove in 35 runs and stole a base in 54 games with the Phillies. Pence's trip-slash was .324/.394/.560, which extrapolated for an entire season, would be the best numbers of Pence's five-year Major League career.
At 29 years old Pence is in both his physical and baseball prime and both he and the Phillies expect big things production-wise this season. Pence recently joined Mike Missanelli on 97.5 The Fanatic in Philadelphia to discuss all things Phillies.
" ... We are stretching and it's me, Jim Thome, Ty Wigginton and we are talking about how there are some amazingly accomplished big league ball players that might not make the team. There are some All-Stars who are going to be sitting on the bench and Thome said it best, ‘Any time you got All-Stars sitting on the bench you are looking pretty good.'"
On his contract:
"Oh man it is tough to describe in words I feel. It is amazing. I am ecstatic. I think to be playing baseball with this team, this Philadelphia team, this organization and the fans. It's fun and we're good and we are going to come out every day and come after you to win the ball game. It's that mind set and it's the mentality. It starts with Charlie [Manuel] and the ownership and it's fun to see everyone go into work together, so we are excited."
Pence will start in right field and probably hit anywhere from third to fifth in the Phillies lineup.
For more coverage of the Phillies, visit the SB Nation blog The Good Phight.