Todd Zolecki of MLB.com writes that the Phillies’ right field job is “a three-man race” and “open competition” among Domonic Brown, Ben Francisco, and John Mayberry Jr., but adds that “many suspect Francisco and Brown will platoon to start the season.”
Before he can claim the bulk of the starts Brown has to first win a spot on the Opening Day roster, which is no sure thing for the 23-year-old top prospect. Brown was called up in late July and remained with the Phillies for the final two-plus months of last season, but started just 13 times in 61 games while getting a grand total of 70 plate appearances.
If the Phillies give him a spot on the Opening Day roster he needs to actually play this time around, and with Jayson Werth gone and Francisco representing the only significant veteran competition for starts that should be an easy call for manager Charlie Manuel. Brown didn’t look very good in his first taste of the majors, but that tends to happen when a 22-year-old is getting one start per week and he’s without question one of the elite prospects in all of baseball after hitting .312 with 23 homers, 62 total extra-base hits, and 25 steals in 130 games between Double-A and Triple-A.
