Apr 15, 2017; Washington, DC, USA; Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez hits a two run homer against the Washington Nationals during the eighth inning at Nationals Park. Mandatory Credit: Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports

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Phillies second baseman Cesar Hernandez is quietly becoming the best hitter in baseball

Swallowed in the abyss of another dismal is the tremendous performance being put on display by Cesar Hernandez. Originally considered an afterthought in the Phillies organization, the second baseman has turned into not just the best hitter on the team, but one of the best in baseball.

The Phillies have played approximately one-fifth of their season playing sub-.500 baseball, as expected. What was unexpected was the performance of Cesar Hernandez at the plate.

Through 32 games Hernandez has 45 hits, the fourth-most in baseball while toting a .324 batting average.

At this current pace, Hernandez will collect 223 hits, clearly a career high for the Phillies young infielder.

Hernandez would be the first Phillies player since Jimmy Rollins to record 200 hits in a season. Rollins, the franchise’s all-time hits leader, hit 212 in 2007, his MVP season. Chase Utley did it in 2006, making him and Rollins the only to have 200 hits in this millennium.

He’s also on pace to break into the franchise top-10 rankings for hits in a single season, joining names such as Chuck Klein, Ed Delehanty, and Richie Ashburn.

In fact, 223 hits would surpass Ashburn on the record list and tie Hernandez with Chuck Klein for the fifth-most hits in a season by a Phillie.

It would take 254 hits to tie Lefty O’Doul’s single-season record for hits in the franchise, a feat that was accomplished in 1929.

Will pitchers adjust to Hernandez, or has he developed into the kind of player who can counter the adjustments? That will be the telling point in whether Hernandez can sustain a major league career, or is just a flash in the pan player.

At this historic rate, Hernandez should be well primed for his first All-Star game appearance this summer.