Posted: Friday, June 25, 2010, 10:19 AM | 72 comments |
 

Brown headed for Lehigh Valley
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Domonic Brown is headed for Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Chuck LaMar, the Phillies' assistant general manager in charge of player development, said the move could be made as soon as today.

Brown, the Phillies' top minor-league prospect, has earned the promotion with a spectacular first half at double-A Reading. In 65 games, the 22-year-old right fielder has batted .318 with 16 doubles, three triples, 15 home runs and 47 RBIs.

"We wanted him to play half a year at Reading, which he has, and we think he's ready," LaMar said.

Brown's dominance also earned him a spot in the minor-league Futures Game scheduled for Sunday July 11 in Angel Stadium, the same site as the major-league All-Star Game.

"It is a big honor and privilege for me," Brown said when asked about the Futures Game Wednesday. "It's the best of the best there, so I'm going to go and have fun."

Brown was also asked Wednesday if he felt he was ready to make the move from Reading to Lehigh Valley.

"Man, I don't worry about that," he said. "I leave that to (general manager) Ruben Amaro and Chuck LaMar. I'm ready when they say I'm ready. I'm just out here playing my game and having fun. I'm just happy to be playing baseball."

Lakewood pitcher Jarred Cosart is the other representative from the Phillies' farm system playing in the Futures Game, but LaMar said the team has no plans of moving up the 20-year-old righthander. Cosart is 7-2 with a 3.44 ERA at Lakewood.

"We want him to finish his first full year in Lakewood," LaMar said. 
Posted by Bob Brookover @ 10:19 AM  Permalink | 72 comments
72
Comments   
  • Comment removed.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:31 AM, 06/25/2010
    I can't wait for him to be putting on a show in Philly next year.
    — BIG_PHILLY
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:31 AM, 06/25/2010
    Thanks for the half year Raul. It's time to see what D Brown's got...
    — FightinPhil
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:37 AM, 06/25/2010
    I'm as excited to see D.Brown in Philly as anyone, but Raul is hitting .300 in his last 14 games. Why would the Phillies replace him now?
    — stephen j.
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:39 AM, 06/25/2010
    Bench Ibanez, field the best team. Make Werth expendable and bring his agent down to earth when Brown shows what he can do. I'd love to have a Werth/Victorino/Brown threesome in the outfield, but we are still talking about the same cheap ownership, which sells out every game with standing room only, and won't show their books.
    — PhillyboyinNYC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:45 AM, 06/25/2010
    This is the right move for Brown. A few months facing some veteran pitchers in Triple A, someone like Nelson Figueroa, will be good for his development.
    — EL Zorro
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:45 AM, 06/25/2010
    Two months in Lehigh, then the September call-up. What I foresee is he and Dobbs coming to Philly in September, bolstering the bench and hopefully, getting PT as the regular starters get some rest before the playoff push. For as bad as they've played, to only be 2.5 games back is astonoshing.
    — beegal99
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:46 AM, 06/25/2010
    stephen j, because he stinks.
    — bigtbone
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:48 AM, 06/25/2010
    More time to get ready in the minors is a good thing. Perhaps he will be a September call up and start next year in either RF if Werth is gone or LF if the Phils can trade Ibanez, which would take the Phils paying at least 1/2 of his salary.
    — borncynic
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:51 AM, 06/25/2010
    PhillyboyinNYC, they don't have to show their books because they aren't a publicly traded company. Also, they have ownership who don't want to be known. Also, they have a top 5 payroll. They can't spend like NY and Boston because they don't have their own cable channel. Gate receipts and TV ad revenue in a down economy is all they have. And you want to insert a 22 year old, Double A outfielder into the lineup, sit a guy who's starting to hit the ball, just to send a message to Jason Werth's agent? Are you really that clueless?
    — beegal99
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:55 AM, 06/25/2010
    Stephen j is right. Ibanez is historically streaky. Just remember his first half last year and how some KC area blogger no one in Philly has ever heard of, convinced everyone in the country to discuss whether or not Ibanez was a juicer. Then ask Murph or Martino or whoever it was at the time to post their column about Ibanez' streakiness. It would suck to bench him at the beginning of a two month stretch where he hits .350 and drives in 50 runs. Especially for someone who is, at the least, not experienced enough to be asked to face star pitchers for the first time in situations he'll be in. Perhaps he would be fine, but Raul probably will be too.
    — B in DC
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:57 AM, 06/25/2010
    Reports on Brown indicate that he still needs to work on his defense. No need to rush him (and start his arbitration clock running).
    — jfar86
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 10:59 AM, 06/25/2010
    Enough already with the Cheap Ownership ! The Phils are in the top 3 or 4 in Total Salaries in all of MLB, so beat it NYC! Brown will be ready to go next season, when I expect Werth to go elsewhere(don't wish this) and Raul may or may not be back.
    — mikedi08
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:00 AM, 06/25/2010
    One problem in baseball today is that players are pushed through the minors too quickly. Moving Brown to AAA is a good move; they need to keep him there and let him develop until he's ready for the show.
    — iggles_rock
  • 0 like this / 0 don't   •   Posted 11:01 AM, 06/25/2010
    38 year old outfielders don't just "start hitting the ball." He is in a rapid decline. If he kills another rally or grounds into another DP Feliz or David Bell style, I'm gonna be sick....
    — FightinPhil


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About Matt Gelb and Bob Brookover












Bob Brookover and Matt Gelb team up for their third straight season covering the Phillies for the Inquirer and philly.com.

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