Phillies Notes: Prospect Greene leaves Phillies, baseball

CLEARWATER, Fla. - Larry Greene, the Phillies' 2011 first-round pick, informed the team earlier this week that he would not be attending spring training and no longer planned to pursue baseball.

Joe Jordan, the Phillies director of player development, said Greene called him three or four days ago and told him he had "other things he wanted to do." Jordan said he did not ask the leftfielder what those things were.

"I mean, this is too hard of a deal to pull off. They all have to be invested in what they're doing," Jordan said. "He decided this isn't what he wanted to do."

Jordan said he would not say the 22-year-old Greene is retired because nothing is "official in that regard." Greene struggled in his three years as a Phillies minor leaguer. He never played higher than single-A Lakewood. He hit .183 last season in 60 games with the BlueClaws. Greene was bothered by a wrist injury early in the season.

Green is the Phillies' third first-round pick since 2008 to fail to progress past double A. Zach Collier, drafted in 2008, was not re-signed this offseason. Anthony Hewitt, also drafted in 2008, was released last June.

"I think, like everyone, you hope this is the year where some things come together, and you start seeing some success and he starts having some fun," Jordan said.

The Phillies drafted Greene with hopes that he would grow to become a power hitter in the middle of their lineup. He was drafted out of Berrien County High (Ga.) and was given a $1 million signing bonus. His power numbers failed to produce as Greene hit just eight home runs in 242 minor-league games.

"I'm disappointed when it doesn't work out for any of them. [But] he's a grown man, he made this decision."

Aaron Harang pitched two scoreless innings in his spring debut and Andres Blanco hit a home run to provide the difference. Harang said his back was fine after it forced him to miss his first scheduled start.

"I don't know if it was even more so the back than anything," Harang said. "Just tightness in my hamstrings and stuff that caused tightness all over. But everything's good."

The righthander, 36, allowed three hits and two walks.

"Timing was a little off," Harang said. "Felt like my control wasn't as spot on as normal. But that's to be expected when you take a little time off."

Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez will start Tuesday in place of Cliff Lee. Gonzalez, 28, pitched out of the bullpen in his first spring appearance. . . . Cody Asche left the game after being hit with a pitch in his right forearm. He said he is fine.

- Matt Breen