PHILADELPHIA -- The Phillies love hitters that make pitchers work, and almost nobody in club history made pitchers work harder than Bobby Abreu.
He is one of six former Phillies who will be in Spring Training in Clearwater, Fla., as guest instructors. Larry Bowa, Brad Lidge, Charlie Manuel, Dan Plesac and Mike Schmidt are the others.
It will be Abreu's first time as a guest instructor and his first time in a Phils uniform since he appeared in camp as a non-roster invitee in 2014. Abreu posted a .416 on-base percentage over nine seasons with Philadelphia from 1998-2006. Only Billy Hamilton (.469) and Roy Thomas (.421) posted better marks in franchise history (minimum 3,000 plate appearances), but both of those players began their careers before 1900.
Abreu also hit .303 with 348 doubles, 195 home runs, 814 RBIs, 254 stolen bases and a .928 OPS. He ranks in the franchise's all-time top 10 in batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage (.513), runs (891), RBIs, doubles, extra-base hits (585), total bases (2,491), walks (947) and stolen bases.
Bowa and Manuel both work as senior advisors to general manager Matt Klentak. Schmidt has been a broadcaster the past four seasons. Lidge returns for his third spring as a guest instructor. It will be Plesac's second time at camp and first since 2015.
Phillies pitchers and catchers hold their first workout Feb. 14. The team holds its first full-squad workout Feb. 19.