Domonic Brown accepts demotion to 'get my swing right'
ALLENTOWN - Ruben Amaro Jr. drove to Allentown on Tuesday. The Phillies general manager had news to deliver. Domonic Brown, who was an all-star just two seasons ago, would be staying in the minor leagues. The rightfielder and the general manager met over lunch near Coca-Cola Park, the home of triple-A Lehigh Valley.
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ALLENTOWN - Ruben Amaro Jr. drove to Allentown on Tuesday. The Phillies general manager had news to deliver.
Domonic Brown, who was an all-star just two seasons ago, would be staying in the minor leagues. The rightfielder and the general manager met over lunch near Coca-Cola Park, the home of triple-A Lehigh Valley.
"I was a little bit frustrated because I know that I'm a big-league player and I want to be in the big leagues," Brown said before Lehigh Valley's game on Wednesday night. "But, I want to make sure that I'm right, too."
The 27-year-old was back with the IronPigs as a full-time minor-leaguer for the first time in three years. Brown had been in triple A since April 18 as part of his 20-day rehabilitation stint. He entered the game batting .139 with three RBIs in nine games.
Brown said the timing of his swing was derailed after he missed the final two weeks of spring training with a left Achilles injury.
"I always say, 'You can't trick yourself,' " IronPigs manager Dave Brundage said. "And in this case, I think that holds true. He understands where he's at when he stands in that batters box - his approach, his confidence, everything about him. Once we see that, he's going to help our major-league club."
Brown said he was not happy at first when Amaro informed him that he was staying in the minors. But additional minor-league at-bats could be beneficial, Brown said. And he appreciated the GM's telling him the news in person.
"I felt good with him coming here telling me face to face exactly what was going on. And I got a free lunch out of it . . . Can't turn that down."
Brown spent Tuesday at home with his family. He texted Amaro on that night and told the general manager he agreed with the demotion. Brown said he will do whatever the Phillies want.
"I'm excited to get things going," he said. "It's a blessing that they're looking out for me like that. They could have sent me up there cold turkey."'
Brown was not mandated to join the IronPigs until Friday, but he reported Wednesday afternoon.
"I'm going to go out, I'm going to fight, I'm going to battle and get my swing right," Brown said. "That's what it's all about."
@matt_breen