Dugan to Rehab Ankle in Clearwater

Lakewood first baseman Kelly Dugan (pictured, left) has been sent to the Phillies' spring traning home in Clearwater, FL to rehab his injured ankle.

The switch-hitting Dugan has been sidelined since the Class A BlueClaws' game at Hagerstown on April 20th, when he stepped on first base awkwardly, while taking a throw on a ground out, and turned his left ankle.

According to Lakewood manager Mickey Morandini, there is no time frame for a return for Dugan, but the injury is not very serious.

"It's basically a twisted ankle. Once the swelling goes down and the pain goes away, he'll resume some strengthening (exercises) and he'll start running again," Morandini stated.

Morandini added that Dugan spent some time in a protective boot, after suffering the injury, to limit the range of motion and to keep the swelling contained. The 21-year-old Dugan was the Phillies' top draft selection (2nd round) out of Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, CA in 2009.

This season in 15 games with Lakewood, Dugan posted a .245 average with 2 homeruns and 9 RBI.

Last year, after beginning the season in extended spring training, Dugan was named as a NY-Penn League All-Star with short-season Williamsport, where he sported a .284 batting average with 2 homeruns and 21 RBI over 47 games.

Click HERE for an image that Dugan posted online, in which you can see the severe swelling.

Additional minor league notes...

Lakewood outfielder Gauntlett Eldemire is considered day-to-day, after being hit in the left forearm with a pitch on Saturday. Eldemire, who missed the entirety of each of the past two seasons with injuries, is expected to return to action by Wednesday.

Lefty reliever Ryan Sasaki was released by the Phillies on Sunday. Sasaki, who missed the past two seasons following back surgery, had posted a 6.60 ERA in 7 appearances for Lakewood this year. Right-hander Luis Paulino will be added to the BlueClaws' roster from extended spring training to fill that void.

Last year's 2nd round draft choice Harold Martinez (pictured, right) was assigned to Lakewood from extended spring training last week, to fill in at 1st base for the injured Dugan. In 6 games, the righty hitting Martinez, who will turn 22 years of age this week, has posted a .304/.320/.478 line.

Class-A Advanced Clearwater outfielder Cody Asche ranks 5th in the Florida State League with a .319 batting average for the Clearwater Threshers. Asche, the Phillies' 4th round draft selection last year, has posted 3-hit games twice in his past three outings. The 21-year-old is a University of Nebraska product.

Double-A Reading starting pitcher Tyler Cloyd took a no decision with 6 scoreless innings on Sunday, lowering his season ERA, in 5 starts, to 1.45.

Veteran minor league infielder Miguel Abreu has put together 6 multi-hits games in his last 7 contests and is batting .500 for the Reading Phillies through 11 games this year.

After opening the season with a 10-2 record, the Triple-A Lehigh Valley IronPigs have gone 3-9.

Lefty reliever Jake Diekman has opened the season on a roll, after impressive efforts in the Arizona Fall League and in spring training with the Phillies. In 9 games with the IronPigs, the 25-year-old has no record, but he has notched 3 saves and posted a 0.82 ERA while striking out 17 batters and walking 3 in 11 innings of work.
_______________________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Lidge Shaky, T-Mac Honored in Trenton

TRENTON, NJ- Brad Lidge made his second rehab appearance for the Double A Reading Phillies on Thursday night and it didn't go as well as the veteran reliever or the team had hoped. Lidge struggled with his command and turned in a rather poor outing for the club that entered the night in a playoff race, 1 game behind division rival Trenton for the Wild Card spot in the Eastern Division. On the disabled list since spring training with a strained right rotator cuff, Lidge experienced an elbow strain when he was working back from that issue in late May. In his outing against the Yankees affiliate in Trenton, Lidge displayed difficulty with his control as he threw three wild pitches, hit two batters, walked another and gave up a single, all while letting up two earned runs on 28 pitches in 2/3 of an inning. After the disappointing performance, Lidge was composed and focused on some positive aspects, having reached 89 and 90 MPH on scouts' radar guns, according to some reports. ...

Jason Knapp Q&A

PhoulBallz .com was fortunate enough to meet with Phillies prospect Jason Knapp just one day after he caught the attention of the baseball world with his 7 shut out innings, 14 strike out performance against the Indians' Lake County team. - I asked Jason, the Lakewood BlueClaw , for some thoughts about his big game... I had pretty good command of three pitches (fastball, curve, change up). I was on the same page with my catcher, D'Arnaud , and I ended up, ya know, I felt pretty good. - In a great performance like that, how much credit goes to Travis D'Arnaud , the catcher? More than you might expect, definitely. I didn't shake him off once. He told me what to throw and I do what I'm told. And if it works out, a lot of the credit goes to the catcher. - Does the lack of run support (Lakewood has scored 3 total runs in his 3 starts), in your few starts, increase your stress level, or enhance your focus? No, I just try to go out and do my job every outing. Ya know, we...

Eric B Needs to be Cut (and My Name is Rakim)

While the Phillies are on a hot streak this month, one player on the team is not. Eric Bruntlett is 1-for-12 in July. Since the start of May, Bruntlett's apex in batting average has been .167 on June 14th. Bruntlett's ineptitude can be tolerated no longer. Get rid of this guy NOW! Eric B. is the 2009 Endy Chavez. Remember Endy...the guy who in 2005 managed just 2 hits in his final 42 games played as a Phillie? That is about the sort of output the Phillies are getting from Bruntlett, and it's time to fix this void. Julio Lugo was designated for assignment last week by the Red Sox and is expected to become a free agent. The Metropolitans are rumored to be interested. Why wouldn't the Phillies be interested in a guy who could surely outhit Bruntlett? Lugo was hitting .284 through 37 games played this season with Boston. Suspended Lehigh Valley IronPig Pablo Ozuna is eligible to return next Wednesday. Ozuna is batting .294 through 51 games at triple A. Miguel Cairo is also...

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog