But once the opening pitch flies and the regulars take the field, they are reduced to the anonymous prospects that they are, sitting in the dugout wearing nameless jerseys and hoping that this might be the day the manager grants them some mopup work.

When Jason Donald took the field in the fifth inning yesterday, he was an extra man.

But by the time he walked off, accompanied by the applause of a Blue Jays crowd well aware of the performance it just witnessed, he had transformed himself into something quite different.

"It'll definitely be something I can take with me," said Donald, who hit two three-run homers in leading the Phillies to a 15-7 win over Toronto. "This doesn't happen too much . . . To do something like this is pretty unbelievable."

First, a disclaimer: Donald has as good a shot at making a snowman this afternoon as he does at making the Phillies' Opening Day roster. Forget the fact that he is a 23-year-old prospect who has yet to see a pitch outside of Class A. Donald plays shortstop. Which, in case you hibernated through the National League MVP voting this past winter, isn't exactly a weak spot for the Phillies.

Selected in the third round of the 2006 draft after a 3-year career at Arizona, Donald hit .300 with eight home runs in 83 games at high-A Clearwater last season and earned an invitation to this year's big-league camp. In 51 games at low-A Lakewood, he hit another four home runs and batted .310.

But just as sure as the temperature will be in the 70s here today, Donald will be in Reading when the major league season starts.

That said . . .

"Puts him in my mind like Biggio," said Phillies manager Charlie Manuel, referring to Craig Biggio, the Astros star who retired last year with more than 3,000 hits. "He's got the same kind of makeup, talks like him . . . everything."

Donald, a righthanded hitter, likely won't make his money as a power-hitting infielder. Biggio hit more than 20 home runs eight times, but never hit more than 26.

Donald makes contact, and he works hard, and when he looks you in the eye he does so with the look of a future big-leaguer. You can tell a lot by an athlete's eyes. Donald has it.

Biggio had it, too. Last year, he retired after 20 major league seasons and 3,060 major league hits.

He was listed at 5-11, 180 pounds. Donald is listed at 6-1, 190.

He came off the bench cold yesterday, just four Grapefruit League at-bats to his No. 90 jersey (extra men don't have last names printed on their backs). He spent the first 4 1/2 innings watching the Phillies build a 5-0 lead. But after regulars like Chase Utley (2-for-2, solo home run), Jimmy Rollins (1-for-3, run scored) and Ryan Howard (0-for-2, one RBI) left the game and scurried to their cars for a quick drive back to Clearwater, Donald got his chance.

He took over for Rollins in the field and for Utley in the batting order. His first time to the plate, he faced off against John Parrish, a lefty who appeared in 53 games for the Orioles and Mariners last season.

There were two on and one out.

Donald swung at the first pitch he saw. It landed somewhere over the fence in right-center.

Two innings later, Donald was back at the plate. This time, he was facing Brandon League, a 25-year-old righty expected to break camp with the Blue Jays. There were two on and no outs.

Donald took the first pitch.

The second, he sent sailing over the fence in rightfield.

"I hope I made a good impression on the brass and on Charlie," Donald said. "I really just tried to handle my business and take care of what I need to do. I just had some good results out of it."

What now? Well, Donald returns to minor league camp. Later this week, he'll get his official minor league assignment. Double A Reading is the destination. He's a middle infielder, which would appear to limit his upward mobility for the time being. Utley, the second baseman, is signed through 2013. Rollins, the shortstop, is signed through 2011.

But there is a chance that, down the road, the Phillies will look at Donald as a third baseman, a position that has been in flux ever since Scott Rolen left town in 2002. They have no immediate plans to do so, but assistant general manager Mike Arbuckle acknowledged the possibility.

"I think he's athletic enough as a shortstop that he could play second base or third base," Arbuckle said.

Donald's six RBI gives him as many or more than regulars Rollins (three), Geoff Jenkins (five), Pat Burrell (five), Shane Victorino (six) and Pedro Feliz (six). He has as many home runs as Utley and Rollins combined (two). Hey, it's only spring training, but it's fun to point this stuff out.

Donald did ground out to end the Phillies' ninth. But none of his teammates seemed to hold it against him. As he walked off the field, catcher Chris Coste turned to a group of reporters and asked dryly, "What are you guys going to write about today?"

Donald was the last one out of the clubhouse at Knology Park yesterday afternoon. Surrounded by those aforementioned writers, he drew a 5-minute warning from one of the Phillies' equipment guys. The team buses were idling in the back.

"I don't think anyone in my family is going to believe me," he said.

With that, Donald slung his duffle bag over his back and walked out the door, a pair of rented charters awaiting his arrival.

For most of the players and coaches already on board, the only highlight of a 15-7 Grapefruit League game on Easter Sunday beneath a bright Florida sun is the final out.

But as Donald shuffled his way down a sidewalk - no name on his back, a smile on his face - the tedium of spring for a moment seemed so much more. *