The signature moment of one of the best Rule 5 rookie seasons in baseball history came on a windy July afternoon at Wrigley Field in the form of a catch replayed countless times in the hours that followed. Odubel Herrera overran a Kris Bryant fly ball, slipped as he turned back and mystifyingly still recovered to haul in the final out of Cole Hamels' no-hitter.

After he picked himself off the warning track at Wrigley Field that day, Herrera flashed the same smile he seemingly always wears, whether walking around the Phillies' clubhouse or strolling into second base for one of his 27 doubles. As a kid in Venezuela, Herrera's favorite player to watch was Jose Reyes because of the way he always appeared to have fun on the field. Herrera tries to play similarly.Herrera's performance on the field has surely made those in the Phillies' front office smile from time to time throughout this dismal rebuilding season, which is likely to eclipse 100 losses before its conclusion on Sunday. Not only has Herrera emerged as the team's biggest surprise of the season, he has also been its most valuable all-around player at only 23 years old.This despite never before having played at a level more advanced than Double A, despite learning outfield play on the fly, and despite knowing little about the pitchers he faces on a daily basis."I think it was a very good year but I believe I can be better," Herrera said through a translator. "I would like to be better."*******Herrera speaks minimal English. The language barrier has made it difficult for fans - and even his teammates - to learn much about his background.Herrera hails from San Jose de Heras, a three-street town in the Venezuelan state of Zulia and about a four-hour drive from the state capital of Maracaibo. He began playing baseball when he was a "chiquito" and doubled as a big-hitting volleyball player until it came time to focus on baseball.His father nicknamed him "El Toro," meaning "the bull," but the moniker has since evolved to "El Torito" or "little bull." After key hits he throws his hands up near his helmet to mimic a bull's horns, a celebration the Phillies adopted this season. Even Chase Utley once took part after a game-changing double.Over the summer, Herrera helped move his parents from Venezuela to his apartment in the city so they could watch him play. Without a driver's license, he often rides a taxi to Citizens Bank Park. "Papi" is his go-to name for many around the clubhouse."It's been fun because I've been able to learn a lot about his culture," outfielder Jeff Francoeur said. "[Like] what his favorite food is. We're trying to figure out what exactly it is he's talking about, but the fact of the matter is it's been fun to get to know him. He's got a great heart. He really does."********The Phillies' offseason shift from contenders to rebuilders afforded them the opportunity to lend playing time to an unknown like Herrera. Their scouts had seen him in general coverage through his years in the Texas Rangers system, so his name was familiar when it surfaced on the list of unprotected players for the Rule 5 draft in December.The key to the Phillies' landing Herrera, though, was a member of their player personnel department. Jorge Velandia is the front office's eyes and ears in the Venezuelan winter league, not heavily scouted from the outside. The 40-year-old former major-leaguer is the general manager of Tiburones de La Guaira.Velandia's roster last season featured a glut of second basemen, so he moved Herrera from second base to center field to get his bat in the lineup. Herrera had played only 11 games of left field the previous season with double-A Frisco, but his athleticism and arm showed enough potential that he played 41 games there over the winter.Velandia flew to San Diego for the annual winter meetings in December and made his pitch to Phillies director of professional scouting Mike Ondo. He touted an exciting player with athleticism and "plus makeup." He raved about his bat while noting he had much to learn in the outfield and on the base paths. Juan Samuel, the Phillies' first-base coach and outfield coach, would work well with Herrera, Velandia thought."He's absolutely surpassed what our expectations were," said Ondo, who has run the Phillies' Rule 5 drafts since 2004, when they selected Shane Victorino. "Especially in year 1, so soon."******Phillies bench coach Larry Bowa has heard comments intimating Herrera is a bit of "a hot dog." Bowa, 69, and about to cap his 50th year in baseball, doesn't believe that's the case."He brings a lot of energy. I like that," Bowa said. "I just think that's his personality. He has fun out there. When he walks, he claps his hands like, 'Let's go. Let's get some runs.'"It's understandable how Herrera's actions on the field might rub opponents the wrong way. He has gotten himself in trouble on a few occasions this season.