Buchanan happy to be back pitching for Phillies

SAN FRANCISCO - When David Buchanan reported in May to the Phillies' facility in Clearwater, Fla., to rehab his severely sprained right ankle, the training staff assured him they would get him healthy and back to triple-A Lehigh Valley as quickly as possible.

But the 26-year-old righthander had another destination he was working toward.

"I was like, 'look, man, I don't want to get healthy to go back to Lehigh,' " he recounted Friday afternoon at AT&T Park. " 'I want to get healthy and go back to Philly.' "

Once you get a taste of the sport's highest level, pitching in the minor leagues can be a humbling experience. Buchanan, who parlayed a great spring training into the title of Phillies' No. 3 starter, never shook the idea of returning to the major leagues as soon as he could.

That call came Tuesday, when the Phillies announced Buchanan would start Saturday night against the Giants. He joined the club in San Francisco on Friday afternoon, ahead of the series opener featuring two former World Series MVPs in Cole Hamels and Madison Bumgarner.

"I was anxious to get back. Every day [in triple A] was just a day that I wasn't in the big leagues," Buchanan said. "I believe in myself as a big leaguer, and I want to prove that."

After an impressive spring, Buchanan looked like a completely different pitcher in April. Plagued by a lack of command, he allowed a dismal 24 earned runs over five starts spanning 242/3 innings. The guy who prides himself on throwing strikes and not issuing walks was all of a sudden walking the most batters on the staff.

"He just somehow got lost out there this year early, and couldn't find where he wanted to go," Phillies interim manager Pete Mackanin said. "Let's hope that he went down there, got a few things accomplished and he's getting back on track."

Fifteen walks and a woeful 8.76 ERA marred his record before he was optioned on May 2. Once back with Lehigh Valley, he didn't issue a walk over his first two starts, both solid outings. But the third, in Rochester, N.Y., was when his ankle gave out while he attempted to field a swinging bunt down the first-base line.

Buchanan said the experience humbled him and showed him "how fast it can all be taken away." Before completing his rehab, he made a pair of recent starts for the Phillies' Gulf Coast League rookie ball affiliate. His only full triple A start since his return came July 2, when he allowed just a run over 61/3 innings. The IronPigs pulled him after 40 pitches on Tuesday so he would be ready for Saturday.

Sean O'Sullivan's demotion back to triple A opened the door for Buchanan's return. The Phillies could certainly use any rotation help they could get. Their starting staff entered the weekend with a major-league worst 5.33 ERA and having failed to log at least six innings in 17 of the last 23 games.

Down in the minors, Buchanan said he "got mentally right." He believes the mechanical issues that troubled him in April stemmed from his mind-set after making his first opening-day roster.

"I was so caught up on proving that I belonged in the big leagues instead of just showing I belong in the big leagues," he said. "That's what I got mentally right in my mind and my heart, so that's why I'm excited to be back just to go out and pitch the way I pitch."