Concussion slows progress of catching prospect Joseph
ALLENTOWN - Tommy Joseph's difficult start at triple-A Lehigh Valley now includes a concussion. The Phillies' top catching prospect suffered the injury May 4 against Indianapolis and he has not played since. Joseph, 21, is hitting .209 with one double, three home runs, and 14 RBIs. He also has been charged with nine passed balls.
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ALLENTOWN - Tommy Joseph's difficult start at triple-A Lehigh Valley now includes a concussion.
The Phillies' top catching prospect suffered the injury May 4 against Indianapolis and he has not played since. Joseph, 21, is hitting .209 with one double, three home runs, and 14 RBIs. He also has been charged with nine passed balls.
"He was probably the one guy who had more on his plate than anyone," director of player development Joe Jordan said. "That's just because of the position. He's got work to do defensively, offensively. We're very excited about him as a young prospect, but you start running the staff as a young guy in this league and obviously trying to not take your at-bats behind the plate."
Jordan said Joseph was handling things all right.
"He's fine mentally," Jordan said. "We have to get him past the concussion and get him back out there. I think he's just ready to get healthy and get back out there."
Second-round checkups
Two former second-round picks are going in opposite directions at high-A Clearwater.
After opening the season on the disabled list, outfielder Kelly Dugan, a second-round choice in 2009, was hitting .280 with a home run and six RBIs in his first 11 games for the Threshers.
"I think he has a chance to be an offensive presence in the major leagues," Jordan said. "He's an aggressive hitter. He's an arrogant hitter. I saw him hit a 95-m.p.h. fastball on the inner 2 inches of the plate out of the ballpark about 10 days ago. He doesn't shy away from good stuff.
"He looked good in camp, so it was very disappointing he got hurt at the end of spring training. He's just doing what he does."
At the other end of the spectrum, third baseman Harold Martinez, a second-round pick in 2011, went into Saturday hitting .191 with just four extra-base hits (all doubles) and five RBIs in 23 games.
"We're trying to make some adjustments so he can maybe get the barrel to the ball a little more consistently," Jordan said. "He's just been a little tardy with getting ready [to swing]."