Domonic Brown accepts triple-A assignment; he could be there awhile

ALLENTOWN - The lineup card posted outside triple-A Lehigh Valley's clubhouse on Tuesday night had "Brown" scribbled into the No. 3 spot. Domonic Brown - the Phillies' former top prospect - was set to play right field.

Another day brought another minor-league game for Brown. The outfielder said he has accepted that he could spend the rest of the season with the IronPigs. A promotion to the Phillies would be a "positive," he said, but it does not sound as if he expects one.

"I'm not in here just looking to be in Philly every day," Brown said before the game was rained out. "Nah, I'm coming in here to play. That's the goal right now."

The Phillies optioned Brown to triple-A on April 28 after the completion of his 20-day rehabilitation assignment; he had come up with a sore Achilles tendon in spring training. Brown is batting .273 in 128 at-bats since he was optioned to Lehigh Valley. He has 18 RBIs but has yet to hit a home run. Brown, 27, is confident the home runs will come.

"They always do, man," Brown said. "If I'm going to be here the whole year, like 140 games, they'll be right where they need to be like always."

Brown is the only player to be on both the triple-A and major-league all-star ballots. He was a National League all-star in 2013 but has not played a game in the majors this season. Lehigh Valley manager Dave Brundage said Brown has been more consistent at the plate in recent weeks.

The two talked on Tuesday afternoon. Brundage said Brown brings positive energy each day. Other players in Brown's situation may not have acted like that, the manager said.

"I told him, 'We need to make some more noise. We need to control the things we can control and go about it that way,' " Brundage said. " 'If we need to make some more noise, then so be it. . . . Put it in their hands. Don't give them a reason to stay in triple A.' "

Brown's minor-league travels took him home last week as the IronPigs traveled to play in Gwinnett, Ga. Brown, who went to high school nearby, said his family asked him why he's in the minor leagues.

It's the same question Brown said he gets asked "every day" by opposing coaches and players. It's the first thing, Brown said, an infielder will ask once he reaches base. He does not have the answers - he's just playing, he said. Brown reminds them that he is coming off an injury and the Phillies want him to get at-bats.

"I don't know for sure, but I'm guessing that's what's going on," Brown said. "If I get traded or whatever, that's fine, too. But I just want to make sure that I'm here every single day busting my butt like I've been doing and enjoying it."

@matt_breen