Maikel Franco is flying to Clearwater in hopes of returning this season

Maikel Franco sat in front of his locker on Wednesday afternoon and pulled the zipper on the red bag full of his baseball bats. Franco's tools were packed away. His quest continues to finish his rookie season on the field.

Franco will fly to Clearwater, Fla., on Thursday morning to continue his rehabilitation from a broken left wrist. He will face live pitching and play in simulated games. Franco, 23, could join the team as soon as next week in Miami. It sounds more probable that he will join the team for the final homestand, which begins Sept. 29.

"It would mean a lot," Franco said after hitting in the indoor batting cage, "because I know I would be ready to go. I know I would be 100 percent ready to play again. That's what I'm looking forward to. That's what I want to do. I want to make sure everything is fine and good in my wrist."

Interim manager Pete Mackanin said he is optimistic that Franco will return this season. The third baseman is two home runs shy of 15, the mark veteran Jeff Francoeur challenged him to reach. Francoeur will buy Franco two suits if he finishes with 15 homers. The rookie will have to get back on the field for that to happen.

"I want to do it," Franco said. "The last six games, I'll try to do it and I'll get a suit."

Ryan Howard underwent an MRI exam on Tuesday, which he said did not reveal any fractures in his swollen left knee. Howard walked without crutches two days after leaving a game with a bruise.

"Just swelled up," Howard said. "Feels fine. Write it. Print it."

Howard said the swelling was "pretty big." He left the game after being hit by a throw while covering first base.

Mackanin guessed that it would be three or four days until Howard is able to get his knee moving. It is wrapped in a bandage. Michael Ciccotti, the team's doctor, will look at the knee on Thursday. The Phillies have not determined whether Howard will travel on their nine-game trip. Howard said he is confident that he will return this season.

"The key thing now is being able to walk on it," Howard said. "Walk on it slow, but walk on it and put pressure on it and that kind of stuff so we can just get the rest of the swelling out."

Elvis Araujo will fly with Franco to Clearwater. He threw a bullpen session on Wednesday afternoon and the Phillies want to make sure the lefthanded reliever is fit to play winter ball after suffering a left groin strain in August. . . . Jhailyn Ortiz, the 16-year-old the Phillies signed in July for $4 million, will play in the organization's instructional league, which begins Monday in Clearwater. The Dominican is a first baseman and outfielder who projects to be a power hitter.