In his limited opportunities, outfielder Domonic Brown has yet to live up the hype that surrounded him in 2010 when he was a highly touted prospect in the Phillies organization.
But that doesn’t mean the 25-year-old is finished.
Yes, Brown has only posted a .236 batting average in a few abbreviated Major League stints, totaling just 147 games in threes seasons; but heading into his fourth spring training — fifth if you count the one at-bat he had in 2008 — Brown is beginning to look like the player everyone thought he could be.
Confident and stronger, a rejuvenated Brown is giving the Phillies a renewed hope in contending with the newly stacked Braves and the reigning NL East champion Nationals.
“My goals are always high, because of the numbers I’ve put up in the past [in the minor league],” Brown said to media on Wednesday. “My goals are always set high. The stuff I’ve been doing in the Major Leagues is not acceptable in my eyes.”
It hasn’t been acceptable for the front office, either.
But in Brown’s defense, the Phillies have never really given him the full opportunity. There hasn’t been room in the outfield, and that has resulted in him playing in just 56 games with 210 and 212 at-bats, respectfully, over the last two seasons.
That will change this season.
Finally, an outfield position will belong to Brown; and if there were any doubts, he’s done a great job at quelling them this spring.
After Sunday’s 13-5 win over Toronto where he hit his third homer of the spring, Brown is batting .350 (7-for-20) with four RBIs and 10 runs scored.
“I’m just keeping it simple,” he said. “I’m just going up there and making sure my approach is great, and seeing the ball up and trying to swing at strikes.”
Even more impressive is the fact that he’s not swinging at balls. In nine games this spring, he has a .519 on-base percentage, boosted by his six walks.
“I wouldn’t say I’m changing things,” Brown said of his approach at the plate this spring. “I’m just fine-tuning a little bit, taking it one day at a time.”
He’s been doing the same thing in the outfield, too. Splitting time in left and right field, Brown has made 10 putouts and committed no errors. He appears to be seeing the ball well off the bat and getting good jumps, and that’s promising with a speedy Ben Revere covering center field.
“ I’ve been working my butt off to get better defensively because I know that’s been the key,” Brown said. “I’m making sure I’m going out there and working hard and not putting any pressure on myself, just trying to have to fun.”
The post Domonic Brown Providing Promise in 2013 with Strong Spring Start for Phillies appeared first on The High Phive.
