PhoulBallz Interview: RHP Ben Brown talks TJ recovery, O'Hoppe, cancelled season

Image- MiLB.com

Out of action since last May when it was determined he required Tommy John surgery, righty pitching prospect Ben Brown is using the downtime of the pandemic hiatus to continue his physical recovery.

A 33rd round draft selection of the Phillies back in 2017, Brown made his professional debut that same year, posting a 2.57 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP in 10 appearances in the rookie level Gulf Coast League.

The following season, Brown began to make a name for himself in the GCL, striking out 16 batters in one July appearance. He would post a 3.12 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP in 10 games (eight starts) before earning a promotion and finishing the season with a pair of outings with Class A short-season Williamsport.

Brown, a Long Island, NY native, opened last year with Class A Lakewood. In four appearances with the BlueClaws, he struck out 20, walked four and allowed no runs in 13 2/3 innings and looked well on his way to making an impact on betting odds and available promo codes before he was sidelined with the elbow injury.

This week, I talked with the 20-year-old Brown about his rehabilitation progress, missing out on the 2020 season and more. Read ahead for that complete interview.

-Where are you in terms of recovery and what is the routine for you as of late?

I am about 14 months out of surgery now, still continuing to build back arm strength. Im at the point where I really don’t need much 1 on 1 rehabilitation attention but i’m lucky to have great trainers up here to take care of me when I need it. My days consist of early morning yoga, mid day throwing and post throw pilates or lift depending on the day.

-To get a better idea of your recovery, if a minor league season was taking place, where would you be at this stage? Rehab games? Not there yet? Beyond that?

If there were a season I would be right around the point where I would be returning to games. I’m a little pushed back due to COVID, but I will definitely be ready to go and built up for 2021 or any opportunity that might come before that.

-It seems you had the chance to work with fellow Long Islander Logan O'Hoppe a bit. Can you give some thoughts on him and how excited the LI crew was for his inclusion in the Phillies' player pool this year?

Logan is the best. We are all so proud of him and, honestly, we are not surprised at all. He works so hard and is always doing things to mentally and physically better himself. I was able to throw with him before he left and it's hard to believe that he is only 20 years old. He is so advanced behind the plate.

-What was your reaction to the cancellation of the season?

I was really upset. I know that I wouldn’t be back till late this year, but a lot of my teammates and friends were really looking great this spring training and I was looking forward to seeing them succeed.

-What was the hardest part about the injury for you and are there any big lessons you can take from it to help you moving forward?

Hardest part of my injury was definitely the feeling of not having control of whether or not my elbow was gonna recover. There are so many bad days and bad weeks, so I was constantly in a mental and physical battle. Thankfully, I also had a lot of really good days and weeks that would get me through the hard times.

-How much baseball are you watching now that MLB has returned?

I have not stopped watching. I have a pretty good setup with a game playing on the TV and a game playing on my computer every night.

-Do you report on your pitching work to anyone with the Phillies or are you given a program and they trust you to stick to it?

I'm in contact almost every day with the training staff regarding how I am feeling and what my throwing program will be like for the week. They have been awesome and whenever I'm feeling any sort of discomfort they are on the phone with me right away. Very grateful for how I have been treated during the rehab process. Our trainer Alex Plumm is just incredible. As for the baseball side we all have weekly phone calls with pitching coaches and we send in video and things like that.

-Do you have any TV, book or video game recommendations for people still dealing with lockdowns?

Honestly, I haven’t really watched much during this quarantine, besides baseball, and regretfully I have not read anything either. Lots of pitching lessons and landscaping for my uncle’s company take up a lot of that quarantine free time.

Diekman a Late Addition to Mesa AFL Roster

On Wednesday, Phillies lefty pitching prospect Jacob Diekman made his Arizona Fall League debut. Diekman, who was drafted in the 30th round of the 2007 amateur draft, was assigned to Mesa late, in order to increase his 2010 innings total, according to Mesa hitting coach Mark Parent, who managed Diekman in Lakewood this past season. Diekman, 23, posted a 2-0 record with 1.90 ERA in 21 games with Class A Lakewood before being promoted to High-A Clearwater on June 24th. In 24 games with the Threshers, Diekman went 0-2 with a 3.66 ERA. Combined, Diekman tossed 55 2/3 innings and held opponents to a .187 batting average against at two levels in 2010. However, after not pitching in an official game since he threw a shutout inning to wrap up the Clearwater season on September 5th, Diekman was unable to record an out as all seven batters he faced reached base, six with hits, one on an error. Diekman was charged with 5 earned runs in the outing. Diekman had spent time at instructional ball from

Who is Your Favorite Willie 'Mays' Hayes?

PhoulBallz.com is wondering which individual who has portrayed Willie "Mays" Hayes is the favorite of the public. Hayes, of course, is the character made famous in the Major League motion picture series. In Major League , Willie "Mays" Hayes was portrayed by budding Hollywood actor Wesley Snipes, who would go on to action movie superstardom. Snipes has starred in major motion pictures like the Blade trilogy, Passenger 57 , Undisputed and many more. Snipes remains an impact Hollywood actor, despite legal troubles related to income tax evasion. Snipes was replaced for the sequel, Major League II when his busy career, and possibly the film's budget, would not allow him to return, by Omar Epps. Another budding actor, Epps had previously worked with director David S. Ward, on the film The Program , and landed the role of Hayes, who had become a Hollywood action star over the off-season that occured between the two films. Epps' career portraying athletes rolle

McGwire Stays Phony, Despite Admitting Drug Use

Mark McGwire made an effort to publicly come clean today, admitting to the world that he took performance enhancing drugs during his playing career. Steroids and human growth hormones were among the drugs that McGwire admitted to using. MLB Network featured a one on one interview with Bob Costas and McGwire on Monday evening. The broadcast was virtually garbage, thanks to McGwire. Ahead is a list of quotes from McGwire's interview. McGwire repeatedly stated his point of view that there were no dishonorable intentions involved when taking steroids, and that he was merely using them as a means to recover from varying ailments. When asked if he felt like he cheated... "As I look back now...I can see how people would say that. As far as the talent goes and the hand-eye coordination, the ability, the genetics I was given...I don't see it." "I did not take this for any strength purposes." Denial. Read on for similar B.S. He whined about the abuse he's taken at

PhoulBallz.com

Search This Blog