Aaron Altherr Hopes to Win Starting Spot This Spring

The Phillies youth movement will be in full force when the team heads to Clearwater this year for spring training.  The team will have a very different look this season and one guy who hopes to be a big contributor is outfielder Aaron Altherr.

He hopes to have the inside track on a corner outfield spot heading into spring training this year.

"That's definitely the plan," Altherr told me as a guest of the Sports Bash on Tuesday. "That's what you play for to get an opportunity to get a starting job. I'm definitely excited about this year and spring."

Altherr ended the 2015 season hitting .241 with five home runs and 22 RBI in 161 plate appearances.

"I always knew I had it in me, it just took me awhile to get comfortable with my swing," Altherr said about his success at the big league level.  "The numbers take care of themselves if you stay confident and you know your swing."

The Phillies have shown they have confidence in Altherr, this off season the team didn't persue any corner outfield help, adding just center fielder Peter Bourjos, who is expected to have one of the starting jobs in the Phillies' outfield. Meanwhile, Odubel Herrera and Cody Asche, along with Altherr will battle for time on the corners.

"That's definitely good for me, hopefully I can go out there and prove them right," Altherr said.  "Hopefully I can continue to keep doing what I did last year, but its definitely encouraging to know I have a good shot of making the team."

(Listen to the full interview with Phillies outfielder Aaron Altherr)