Lakewood's Greene working through struggles

It's been a difficult year for Lakewood outfielder Larry Greene Jr., who got off to a rough start and has yet to recover.

Greene was the Phillies' first selection in the 2011 draft, No. 39 overall as a supplemental pick between the first and second rounds. He is The Inquirer's No. 15-ranked Phillies prospect.

In his first minor-league season, last year for short-season Williamsport, he batted .272 with two home runs and 26 RBIs in 70 games.

This year, Greene didn't break camp with the other minor-leaguers because he wasn't in shape. So he stayed in the Florida Instructional League.

With low-A Lakewood, Greene entered the weekend hitting .185 with no home runs and 14 RBIs in 130 at-bats. When he signed for a $1 million bonus, Baseball America wrote that Greene "had as much raw power as any high school player in the draft."

The 20-year-old Greene is accountable for not being at his best when reporting to camp this season.

"It was my fault, I came out of shape," he said. "Now I am working hard every day and working each day to get better."

The 6-foot, 230-pounder has stuck out 52 times but has walked 25.

Joe Jordan, the Phillies' director of player development, believes Greene will turn things around.

"Larry has had to deal with failure, and with a lot of players that is very difficult," Jordan said. "He hasn't forgotten how to hit."

Recently, Greene was given a few days off to clear his mind.

Jordan said Greene needs to string together a few solid games to gain some confidence. The organization is showing confidence by continuing to write his name in the lineup.

"We keep running him out there," Jordan said. "I still believe he has every chance to be like the player we took in the draft."

Reading lefthander Jesse Biddle, The Inquirer's No. 1 Phillies prospect, went 1-4 with a 4.75 ERA in 30 innings during May after going 2-1 with a 1.74 ERA in 31 April innings.

"He has dealt with some upper respiratory stuff here and there and has fought through it," Reading manager Dusty Wathan said. "He is one of the hardest workers we have in the organization, and sometimes when you are not 100 percent it can be difficult, but he is getting close to 100 percent."

Darin Ruf has continued to have a difficult first season at triple-A Lehigh Valley. Ruf entered the weekend batting .252 with 16 doubles, 5 home runs, 25 RBIs, and 57 strikeouts in 201 at-bats.

"He needs to be more consistent and utilize the whole field," Lehigh Valley manager Dave Brundage said. "At the same time he is not flying under the radar and is getting pitched awfully tough."

Brundage said that Ruf has been dealing with some nagging injuries and hopes that a player who hit 38 home runs at Reading and three more for the Phillies last year can relax.

"He puts a lot of pressure on himself," Brundage said. "He has a lot of doubles, and I feel the home runs will come."

Clearwater third baseman Maikel Franco, The Inquirer's No. 3 Phillies prospect, entered the weekend batting .294 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs, but what is often overshadowed is his defensive ability. He has made one error in his first 55 games.

"I have never seen anybody as good with the glove," said Clearwater outfielder Kelly Dugan. "He handles everything and has the arm to put everybody away."