Phillies Nation

Lakewood first baseman Kelly Dugan (pictured, left) has been sent to the Phillies’ spring traning home in Clearwater, FL to rehab his injured ankle.

The switch-hitting Dugan has been sidelined since the Class A BlueClaws’ game at Hagerstown on April 20th, when he stepped on first base awkwardly, while taking a throw on a ground out, and turned his left ankle.

According to Lakewood manager Mickey Morandini, there is no time frame for a return for Dugan, but the injury is not very serious.

“It’s basically a twisted ankle.  Once the swelling goes down and the pain goes away, he’ll resume some strengthening (exercises) and he’ll start running again,” Morandini stated.

Morandini added that Dugan spent some time in a protective boot, after suffering the injury, to limit the range of motion and to keep the swelling contained. Continue reading Dugan to Rehab Ankle in Clearwater

Righty reliever Justin De Fratus, who has been checking in with this site throughout his delayed 2012 campaign regarding his progress, as he recovers from an elbow ailment, has experienced a setback on his road to recovery.

De Fratus told PhilliesNation.com’s Jay Floyd exclusively last weekend that, following a rehab appearance with the Class A Advanced Clearwater Threshers that he would have a similar outing with Clearwater the following Wednesday.  After experiencing more discomfort with his increasingly aggressive work schedule, De Fratus was shut down by the Phillies, as a precautionary measure to avoid additional problems.

Described as a strain on the flexor tendon in his throwing elbow, the ailment is expected to heal fully with rest.  The native of Oxnard, CA is expected to sit out for two weeks and will then be reevaluated for a return to an active throwing program. Continue reading De Fratus Experiences Setback with Elbow

Infield prospect Harold Garcia will miss much of the 2012 season for the second consecutive year as the Venezuela native underwent micro fracture surgery on his right knee. The 25-year-old is reportedly expected to miss 4-6 months.

After spending so time this past off-season in the Venezuelan Winter League, Garcia reported to spring training with high hopes for a healthy year, but recurring discomfort resulted in further examination of his knee and it was decided to further repair his troubling joint.

Garcia had surgery to repair a torn ACL in his right knee early in the 2011 season, after he began the year with Double-A Reading. It was a tough break for Garcia, whom the Phillies had grown very high on after a tremendous 2010 campaign.

This marks the third straight year that Garcia will miss considerable time with a significant injury, as he began the 2010 season on the disabled list with a left hamate fracture. However, that ailment didn’t stop the 5-foot-11 190-pounder from putting together a Class-A Advanced Florida State League record 37-game hitting streak that season. Continue reading Garcia Again Has Knee Surgery

TRENTON, NJ- A pair of Phillies big leaguers thrilled fans in attendance on Saturday night at Waterfront Park, home of the Trenton Thunder. On rehab assignments with Class Double A Reading, relief pitcher Brad Lidge and Gold Glove Award winning outfielder Shane Victorino contributed to a convincing victory, as the R-Phils won in a rout, 13-2.

At the plate, as the team’s designated hitter, Victorino, who has been sidelined with a right thumb injury, went 3-for-5 with two singles and a double, while driving in a run. The right-handed Lidge, out with shoulder and elbow ailments, breezed through a 1-2-3 inning on 12 pitches, striking out one batter, inducing a fly out and throwing out the third batter on a come backer to the mound.

The 30-year-old Victorino experienced discomfort in his thumb during batting practice and in the game. He was sure it was something that he could and should play through.

“The pain’s tolerable and that’s all that I was worried about,” Victorino said. “It didn’t get worse throughout the game and that’s a good step for me.” Continue reading Victorino, Lidge Outstanding in Rehab with R-Phils