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Aumont absent among Phillies' September call-ups

The Phillies will add six minor-league players as September call-ups, but some notable prospects will be left waiting by the phone.

Lehigh Valley IronPigs catcher Cameron Rupp.   (Elizabeth Robertson/Staff Photographer)
Lehigh Valley IronPigs catcher Cameron Rupp. (Elizabeth Robertson/Staff Photographer)Read more

The Phillies will add six minor-league players as September call-ups, but some notable prospects will be left waiting by the phone.

Catcher Cameron Rupp, a former third-round pick who ascended to the top of the organization's catching ladder with a solid season, was added to the roster. Lefty Mauricio Robles, a hard thrower with shaky command, earned a promotion. They are joined by infielder Freddy Galvis and pitchers Tyler Cloyd, Luis Garcia and Joe Savery.

Enigmatic reliever Phillippe Aumont apparently will be sent home. Aumont appeared in 22 games for the Phillies earlier this season and could not find the strike zone at triple-A Lehigh Valley after a July demotion. He walked 36 in 342/3 innings. The 24-year-old faces an uncertain future in this organization.

Top prospect Maikel Franco was not among the promoted, although general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said his name was "discussed internally" and the team has one free spot on the 40-man roster. Franco ended his season Monday at double-A Reading with a 3-for-4 performance. He batted .320 with 31 homers at Clearwater and Reading.

The Phillies want an extended look at third baseman Cody Asche. Franco, a third baseman, played eight recent games at first base for Reading. Asking the 21-year-old prospect to play an unfamiliar position at the major-league level would be unfair.

Franco will play winter ball in the Dominican Republic. He will likely attend big-league camp during the spring training.

Robles, like Aumont, pitched without control. The lefty walked 31 in 38 innings with the IronPigs but managed a 1.42 ERA. The 24-year-old was a waiver claim from Seattle last winter.

Rupp, 24, batted .260 with a .760 on-base-plus-slugging percentage across double-A Reading and triple-A Lehigh Valley. He bashed 14 homers and developed a reputation as a reliable backstop. Carlos Ruiz is a free agent at season's end, and while it is difficult to imagine a catching tandem of Erik Kratz and Rupp, it is a chance for him to taste the majors and gain comfort in case he's needed in 2014.

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