Cesar Hernandez (Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports)

The Philadelphia Phillies are playing competitive baseball right now and a lot of that has to do with second baseman, Cesar Hernandez. Hernandez has been a pleasant surprise for this Phillies team so far. He has been an excellent leadoff hitter and does not show any indication of slowing down.

While this team still has plenty of questions marks, having your leadoff hitter taken care of eliminates a big concern for any roster. Cesar is performing at an extremely high level both in the batters box and on the field. As the season progresses, it will be interesting to see whether or not he is capable of continuing this outstanding play.

Currently, Cesar is batting .338 with nine extra-base hits. His plate discipline has certainly improved, but what seems to be even more interesting is the development of his power to all sides of the field.

In 155 games last season, Hernandez only managed to hit six home runs. In only 18 games this year, he has been able to hit four. The home runs, however, are not the only signifier of his power as Hernandez has been showing an ability to hit with power to the gaps as well, as evident of his four doubles and one triple this year.

Last year, Cesar would have only been considered a stopgap second baseman until the Phillies were able to acquire someone better and more dependable. Now, he looks like a player capable of being the Phillies second baseman for a long while.

Only time will tell if Hernandez has what it takes to remain a starter for this Philadelphia Phillies team. His play right now shows that it certainly is a possibility. One thing is for sure, however, his hot start has certainly been a major contribution to this teams success early on in the season.