Brown back in the big leagues
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Brown back in the big leagues
Bob Brookover, Inquirer Baseball Columnist
Late Thursday night when Ruben Amaro Jr. announced that Shane Victorino was headed to the disabled list with a strained hamstring, the general manager pretty much rejected the idea that top prospect Domonic Brown would be called up to replace him.
Friday afternoon, when the news of Victorino's trip to the 15-day DL became official, the Phillies announced that Brown would be promoted from triple-A Lehigh Valley to replace him on the roster.
The Phillies also optioned reliever Scott Mathieson to Lehigh Valley and recalled David Herndon. No immediate announcement was made about righthander Joe Blanton, who is also expected to go on the disabled list with an elbow injury that forced him to be scratched from Thursday night's start against Colorado.
Earlier in the day, assistant GM Chuck LaMar talked about how Brown's development will continue even when he reaches the major leagues.
"We think he can play in the major leagues right now," LaMar said. "But he's a player who is going to continue to develop over the next year or two. I know expectations are high for him as individual, but he's a young man who has gone right through the minor-league system, so some of his development is going to have to take place at the major-league level."
It has been an interesting last 10 months for Brown. Last July, he was rated the top minor-league prospect in baseball shortly before being called to the big leagues for the first time in his career also because of an injury to Victorino.
After getting considerable playing time in his first two weeks in the big leagues, he was relegated mostly to bench duty from the middle of August through the end of the season and in the postseason. He hit just .210 in 35 games, then struggled in a brief winter ball stint, going 2-for-29 in nine games with Escogido in the Dominican Republic.
His problems at the plate lingered into spring training as he went 0-for-15 to start the Grapefruit League schedule then fractured the hook of the hamate bone on his right hand after picking up his first hit. The injury required surgery.
Since returning, however, Brown has been a hot hitter again, batting a combined .350 with four home runs and 14 RBIs in 16 games at single-A Clearwater and Lehigh Valley. LaMar said Brown is a confident player right now.
"Domonic believes he is a major-league player," LaMar said. "Domonic in the past and now is confident in his skills. There is no doubt in our mind that he is made up the right way."
Herndon, who had a 9.28 ERA in 11 appearances with the Phillies earlier this season, was 1-0 with a 2.00 ERA after being demoted to Lehigh Valley earlier this month. He struck out nine and walked one in nine minor-league innings. Mathieson had pitched three scoreless innings, including two Thursday night, for the Phillies.
If Blanton is placed on the DL later today, Vance Worley is the most likely pitcher to replace him in the starting rotation.
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Dude - your notes are in the post.— jpk- Bob, thanks for the post, this is great news! Did the webmaster forget to delete a few notes at the bottom of the page?— bobbysam
Comment removed.- OK. So that still leaves us with 2 outfielders who can't hit or throw.— PhillyPhan4for4
- Of course that's an improvement over the last week, when our line-up consisted of 3 outfielders who couldn't hit or throw.— PhillyPhan4for4
- NO HERNDON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'd rather see Joe Cowley or Mike Maddux for cryin' out loud.— The Sherm
- I fullly agree! I saw that Herndon was coming back up, and it kind of killed the buzz of Dom coming back up...There is no need for a 2 for 1 deal here! — PhilliefaninAZ
- I am betwixt and betweened by this development! While I would MUCH rather see Brown hitting everyday and learning to BE an outfielder at 3A ball, the Fightins are in a jam for bodies right now, and he will be NEEDED. I have my fingers crossed that the problems of the team can be cured, and Brown will help in curing them. I HOPE like hell that he can relax (fat chance of THAT!), continue hitting the ball hard, and most of all, get some REAl instruction in the outfield! I don't want to see a repeat of last year, when he was left to stagnate on the bench after he got healthy enough to play. It is MOST unfortunate that his development has been yet again been shoved to the rear because of the needs of the Big Club. What is going to happen to this kid's head, when he screws up something in the field, and the result is a loss in a game that should have been won. This is ALSO something that would have been worked on in The Minors.— TBear
- Sherm, youre discounting the consistency that Herndon shows. I for one have never seen another pitcher who can chew gum with an arrogant smirk on his face while allowing all hitters to bat well over .300 against him. That has to be some talent in all of that.— Sewellmatt
- Comment removed.
- Can't hurt. Then again, Ruben could plug me, Brookover and Matty Gelb into this pitiful offense, and it wouldn't get much worse.— eman
- You stink Tonka...get a thrill out of scaring Phillies fans do you?
I would rather the Phils have called up Barfield or one of the other guys at LV. DB is not fully ready for the bigs, he needs more AB's and coaching. When Vic is healthy, who sits? Raul is Charlie's guy and Mayberry deserves a shot.— akh - Herndon????? If thats the best you can do at AAA than you're in deep sh*t!!!! And if this brain dead manager sits Brown like he did last year, Slowing his progress, than he should be fired!!!! If you're not going to start him EVERY GAME, let him stay down.— twpman
- TBear, my friend. Relax. All is getting better, Worley will be back, Chase will come marching in and the stars will align perfectly by the end of the month. Meanwhile, say a prayer that Martinez suffers a not too painful injury and is placed on the 280 day DL.— NewMick314
- Welcome back Dom, stay healthy, give Ben and Raul a run for their money. Own it.
