Manuel gets look at remaining candidates in right field for Phillies

LAKELAND, Fla. - Charlie Manuel was making this hour-long trip no matter what, even though most of his regulars stayed back for a game without their manager. A day spent at Joker Marchant Stadium meant Manuel could enjoy a rare night at home in Winter Haven, Fla.

So when the Phillies divided up the 59 players in camp Sunday for a split-squad game, it was hardly a surprise to see Ben Francisco and John Mayberry Jr. headed to where the manager was going.

The competition - and yes, Manuel still calls it that - for right field is down one candidate. Domonic Brown left Florida to return to Philadelphia, where he will almost certainly undergo surgery Tuesday to repair a fracture in his right hand.

That leaves Francisco and Mayberry, both of whom have impressed Manuel in early Grapefruit League play. With 25 days left, Francisco is now the heavy favorite to start in right on opening day at Citizens Bank Park, but Manuel said nothing is decided.

"No. We still have guys out there to play," the manager said. "We'll just put those guys out there and let them play."

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said he would not add a player from the outside before opening day because of Brown's injury.

"Obviously, it takes somebody out of the mix, but like I've said before, I think we have the talent here in this camp to be able to handle the position," Amaro said. "We'll kind of continue to evaluate as we go."

Brown had not exactly distinguished himself in the first week of play, going 0 for 15 before the broken-hand single Saturday. Manuel said he was extremely disappointed that Brown's spring ended the way it did. The fracture, in the hook of the hamate bone, will sideline Brown for four to six weeks.

"That's tough," Manuel said. "The kid, first of all, he was putting a lot on himself. He was actually trying too hard. But when he comes back and starts playing, in the long run, it might help him. It might slow him down."

Surgery has not been officially scheduled for Brown, but Amaro spoke Sunday as if it is all but certain, pending a final examination from hand specialist Randall Culp.

"Typically this is a fairly simple surgery," Amaro said. "If there is a fracture, they would take out the bone, and it's gone. So again, we'll see how he would react from it, but it's a fairly straightforward procedure."

A similar injury was what derailed Dave Hollins' career in Philadelphia. Amaro said a few minor-league players in the organization are coming back from the surgery without issues. But usually it takes longer than the six weeks for a player to regain his power stroke.

"It can," Amaro said. "A lot of it depends on the player, depends on the individual."

Brown was not available for comment before departing for Philadelphia.

"He wasn't pressing, he just wasn't in a rhythm," Amaro said. "I talked to the kid, and he still felt very confident about things. He's just upset that he has the injury, clearly. Anybody would be."

So baseball went on Sunday without Brown. Francisco was 0 for 3 with a deep fly to the warning track that was knocked down by the wind. He's hitting .364 (8 for 22) with five extra-base hits.

Mayberry hit an opposite-field home run off Tigers lefthander Phil Coke in the second inning. He was 1 for 3 and his spring batting average is .300 (6 for 20).

A few minutes after insisting the competition is open, Manuel said he sees Mayberry as a strong bench candidate because he can play all three outfield positions with proficiency and a little first base, too.

Right now, both players are hitting, and that provides some solace as Brown disappears.

"That's good," Manuel said. "That's what we want."