Skip to main content

Rehabbing De Fratus, Brown & Gillies Make Progress

hile the nation was focused on the big league All-Star Game on Tuesday, some noteworthy rehab activity was going on in the minor for the Phillies. Reliever Justin De Fratus, top prospect Domonic Brown and minor league outfielder Tyson Gillies all saw game action, after some lengthy absences from the diamond.

Firstly, with the Gulf Coast League Phillies completed a suspended game from Monday by downing the Blue Jays team 5-4 in the morning hours. Following that, in a shortened seven-inning affair that the Phils won 7-3, right-hander Justin De Fratus (pictured, right) started and threw a scoreless inning, allowing a hit while striking out one batter. De Fratus has been sidelined with a strained flexor tendon in his throwing elbow. The 24-year-old had previously thrown a simulated game on Saturday, which was his first time facing hitters since April 22nd, when he threw for Class A Advanced Clearwater.

De Fratus, the Phillies' 11th round draft pick in 2007, made his big league debut last September and posted a 1-0 record and a 2.25 ERA in five appearances. The Oxnard, CA native could be a welcome addition to a struggling Phillies bullpen, if he can get back to full health.

Also with the GCL team, outfielder Dom Brown (pictured, left), who has been dealing with a knee sprain since mid-June, served as the club's designated hitter and went 2-for-3 (single, double) with a walk, a stolen base and two runs scored.

The 24-year-old had posted a .266 batting average with four homers and 22 RBI in 47 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, prior to experiencing the injury.

Brown was selected by the Phillies in the 20th round of the 2006 amateur draft. In 91 big league contests, the 6-foot-5-inch 205-pounder has posted a .236/.314/.382 line.

Tyson Gillies (pictured, right), the speedy outfielder acquired by the Phillies in the 2009 Cliff Lee trade, has been out of action with a concussion since he collided with teammate Jiwan James while fielding a ball in late May. Making an appearance with the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws, Gillies played center field for five innings and went 0-for-2.

The 23-year-old is expected to play for Lakewood again on Wednesday.

Phillies director of player development, Joe Jordan, wanted Gillies to see game action as soon as possible this week. The Double-A Reading Phillies, where Gillies normally occupies a roster spot, are on their All-Star Break, so Lakewood was an easy choice for the Vancouver native to get some at bats in the meantime.


Additional injury note--
Lakewood outfielder Kyrell Hudson, who suffered damaged tendons in his right hand last week, will undergo season-ending surgery on Thursday. Hudson, the Phillies' 3rd round draft choice in 2009, had posted a .224 average with 1 HR, 21 RBI and 23 stolen bases in 64 games this season.

____________________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Also connect with PhoulBallz on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

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...