by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/21/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown provided his team's only offense during Monday's 5-1 loss to the Marlins with a solo home run off Alex Sanabia in the second inning. It was Brown's eighth home run and fifth in May.
Brown also had his seventh multi-hit game in May Monday. He's batting .271 (19 for 70) with a .514 slugging percentage, two doubles, two stolen bases, eight runs and 10 RBI in 18 May games (17 starts).
Domonic Brown hitting better in last few weeks
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/15/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown homered and had two hits to extend his hitting streak to five games Tuesday against the Indians. Brown is batting .381 (8 for 21) with one double, one home run and four RBI in his last five games.
Brown is batting .301 (22 for 73) with a .548 slugging percentage, three doubles, five home runs and 13 RBI in his last 19 games. His batting average has risen from .206 to .257 in that span.
Domonic Brown locates power swing
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (5/7/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown homered for the third time in five games and the fourth time in nine games Monday against the Giants. After watching his batting average drop to .206 April 23, Brown is batting .311 (14 for 45) with a .622 slugging percentage in his last 12 games, raising his season average to .250.
Brown also has a .941 OPS, two doubles, six runs and nine RBI in his last 12 games.
Domonic Brown homers for second straight day
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/3/2013) Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown hit his second home run in as many games on Friday, continuing a hot start to the month of May that's seen Brown go 6 for 11 with two home runs in three days.
Brown, who also struck out twice on Friday, has hit .268/.333/.454 in 108 plate appearances this year.
Here comes Domonic Brown
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (5/3/2013) The reports that Domonic Brown seems to have earned the trust of Phillies manager Charlie Manuel are especially encouraging with Delmon Young off the DL. More than likely, John Mayberry will be the outfielder vacating the lineup for Young, allowing Brown to continue to build off his recent 12-for-31 (.387) stretch.
By now, my thoughts on Brown are pretty well documented. Long story short, I believe in him, and I'm not alone. Manuel, who's known for his hitting expertise, clearly believes in him, and CBSSports.com user "ninetyonemph" believes in him, making a good point about line-drive rate in the comments section of Brown's player page. Brown's rate is up to 26.0. As often as he makes contact, he can't keep hitting the ball that hard and having so little to show for it.
The best is yet to come and may have already started, so don't give up on Brown now.
Domonic Brown justifying larger role
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (5/3/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown is batting just .266, but that number doesn't do justice to how well the 25-year-old has been hitting recently. After going 3 for 4 Thursday in a 7-2 win over the Marlins, Brown is batting .387 over the last eight games.
Brown hit his fourth home run of the season Thursday, and added two RBI and two runs. He has two home runs and seven RBI over the last eight games, and he credits his success to the confidence that comes from seeing his name in the lineup every day.
"You find a rhythm when you are playing every day," Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "It's been a blessing for Charlie [Manuel] to tell me I am in the lineup."
Brown has four home runs, 13 RBI and has started all but two games.
Domonic Brown records two hits in tough matchup
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (5/1/2013) Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown managed to get two hits Wednesday on a night where his team was shut out while totaling just three hits. Brown's two singles against the Indians lifted his season line to .244/.317/.378 in 101 plate appearances.
Domonic Brown warming up again
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/27/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown went 2 for 5 with a home run -- his first in the past 16 games -- during a 9-4 win over the Mets on Saturday. Brown drilled a three-run homer off Robert Carson in the fifth inning before John Mayberry followed with a solo shot -- the second set of back-to-back homers for the Phillies this season, both against New York.
Brown also added a single and has posted multiple hits in three of his past four games to improve his batting average to .241. He had just one hit in his previous seven games before.
Some encouraging signs for Domonic Brown
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/23/2013) Count me among those not giving up on the Phillies' Domonic Brown just yet. He simply makes too much contact not to come around eventually.
He's striking out once every six at-bats, which is almost unheard of for a power hitter in his first year as a full-time player, and based on his previous stints in the majors, it's not an aberration. It's not like he's making weak contact either. Brown's line-drive rate of 24.5 ranks 50th among full-time players.
Michael Hurcomb pointed to Brown's unsustainably low BABIP as an indication he's due for better things, and I have to agree. If his five walks and no strikeouts over his last three games are a sign of him seeing the ball better, watch out.
Domonic Brown due for a breakout run
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (4/21/2013) I urge Fantasy owners to be a little more patient with Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown. After a torrid spring, Brown skyrocketed up draft boards, but now a slow start has dropped his ownership percentage below 80 percent.
I think Brown has just experienced a little bit of bad luck through the first few weeks. His BABIP is at .238 despite an 82.1 percent contact rate. His career BABIP is .266 and the league average is .293, per FanGraphs.com. While Brown is a predominatly line drive and ground ball hitter, his home run to fly ball ratio is 13.3 percent, so when he gets the ball elevated, he's had success.
I think the Phillies are a sleeping giant. Right now, they are averaging 3.5 runs per game, which is the sixth-worst average, and are slugging .371, which is the ninth-worst average in the majors. I know it's a team of aging veterans past their primes, but there's still offensive talent here. Like my colleague Scott White preached patience with Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, I have similar sentiments about Brown.
Domonic Brown reaches base twice in return
by Igor Mello | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown, who missed Friday's game with a back injury, returned to the starting lineup Saturday night against the Cardinals.
Brown drew two walks and was 0 for 2 in a 5-0 loss.
Brown is in a 2-for-17 slump and is hitting .218/.283/.345 with two home runs and six RBI in 55 at-bats.
Domonic Brown inserted back into starting lineup
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (4/20/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown returned to the starting lineup for Saturday's game against St. Louis after dealing with a back injury he suffered Wednesday at Cincinnati. He was able to serve as a pinch-hitter Thursday, but missed Friday's game.
With Ryan Howard sidelined because of an injury, Brown served as the No. 5 hitter in the batting order for the second time this season.
Domonic Brown out, hopes to play Saturday
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/19/2013) Phillies manager Charlie Manuel told reporters prior to Friday's game against the Cardinals that he hopes outfielders Domonic Brown will be able to play Saturday, after missing two games due to a back injury.
"He’ll play tomorrow," Manuel said. "We want to make sure his back is OK and that he don’t have to miss a lot of time. We want to make sure he’s healthy."
Brown was able to pinch hit Thursday, and all examinations have come back negative regarding structural damage.
Domonic Brown out again
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/19/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown's back injury is not considered serious, but it did cost him his second game in a row Friday against the Cardinals. Brown initially suffered the injury Wednesday, when he felt a "pop" in his back and had to leave the game. He is considered day-to-day.
Domonic Brown out for Thursday
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/18/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown was out of the lineup Thursday against the Cardinals after suffering a back injury in the team's previous game. He told the Philadelphia Inquirer his injury is not serious, and he hopes to return soon. Brown speculated that he could return as soon as Friday.
Domonic Brown felt pop in back while diving for ball
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013) Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown felt a pop in his back while diving for a fly ball Wednesday, leading to his removal from the game.
"I don’t know what happened," Brown told MLB.com. "We’re going to get an MRI and see exactly what’s going on. I don’t think it’s anything major at all ... I felt some pain immediately. Once I took a couple of swings, I really felt it."
The Phillies will know more about Brown's status after an MRI Thursday.
Domonic Brown exits with sore back
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/17/2013) Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown exited Wednesday's loss to the Reds after three innings with a sore back, according to CSNPhilly.com. He will be evaluated Thursday.
Brown struck out in his only at-bat of the day, giving him a .231/.273/.365 line in 55 plate appearances this season.
While earlier in his career Brown might have admired a home run, that's no longer the case, as evidenced after Brown clubbed a three-run homer Wednesday against the Mets.
"When I am going around the bases and high fiving teammates, I am thinking of the next at bat and what I could do," Brown said. "Back in the day, I would (get extra satisfaction) and then go and strike out two or three more times. I have to be prepared and focused on the next at bat."
Brown has homered twice in nine games, but he's batting just .242 (8 for 33) and has no doubles or triples.
Domonic Brown's homer caps five-run first
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/10/2013) Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown hit a three-run home run to cap the scoring in a five-run first inning during the team's 7-3 win over the Mets Wednesday. It was the second home run of the season for Brown, who is hitting .242/.286/.424 in 35 plate appearances this year.
Domonic Brown slugs his first homer
by Chris Towers | CBSSports.com (4/5/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown has carried his strong spring-training play into the regular season, as he picked up a hit in the fourth straight game to start the season, Friday against the Royals.
Brown went 1 for 4 in the game, with his lone hit a solo home run -- his first of the season. He also struck out for the first time in a 13-4 loss.
Brown is currently batting .333 through four games, with five hits. He has one RBI, and Friday's home run was his only extra-base hit so far. Brown was on fire in the spring, hitting seven home runs in 30 games.
The first of many for Domonic Brown
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (4/5/2013) After a three-game wait that felt more like a three-month wait, Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown finally hit his first home run Friday against the Royals. He hit seven during spring training, prompting speculation, mostly from me, that he's poised for a breakout season.
I kid about the wait, of course. Like anyone else, I'd like immediate validation whenever I go out on a limb, but the fourth game of the season works just fine, especially given what Brown has been doing -- or not been doing -- in the meantime.
Strikeouts. As of the fourth inning of Friday's game, he has none in 13 at-bats this season, and looking over his major- and minor-league track record, that's not exactly out of the ordinary.
Even if you don't think the adjustment he and assistant hitting coach Wally Joyner made to his stance this offseason makes Brown a lock for 30 homers, a 20-homer guy who makes consistent contact is still worth starting in all formats.
Domonic Brown keeps getting on base with two-hit effort
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (4/3/2013) Phillies left fielder Domonic Brown kept his on-base percentage at .500 for the second straight game, reach base twice against the Braves Wednesday on two singles in his four trips to the plate.
So far, so good for a guy looking for a breakout season in his third year. The Phillies square off against right-hander Kris Medlen Thursday.
Phillies prefer Domonic Brown in left field
by R.J. White | CBSSports.com (3/28/2013) The Philadelphia Phillies have given Domonic Brown time in left and right field this spring, but manager Charlie Manuel plans to use him as the team's regular left fielder. "I think he's earned that right," Manuel told MLB.com. "He's improved both places [left field and right], but I like him better in left field."
Laynce Nix and John Mayberry, Jr. are projected to share right field until Delmon Young returns from injury.
Domonic Brown not quite at Michael Morse's level
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/28/2013) I faced a gut-wrenching decision in the 15th round of a Head-to-Head points draft Wednesday night: Michael Morse or Domonic Brown?
Morse, as I recently wrote, is getting overhyped because of his spring performance, and of course, I've made pretty clear Brown is my top sleeper choice this year -- so much so that I'm routinely taking him in Round 15 in most drafts.
So why did I go with Morse this time? Well, he's usually not even an option at that point. The hype often pushes him up to Round 9 or 10. It's not like I'm down on him as a player. I think he's closer to being the hitter he was in 2011 than not. I just see him more as somone else's guy than my guy.
Of course, reaching for pet players has hurt me as much as it's helped in the past, and seeing as I got Morse at a discount, sacrificing Brown is, objectively speaking, a small concession. Still, I can't help but think that if Brown is who I think he is, he'll be even better than the 2011 Morse.
Domonic Brown emerges as starter
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/22/2013) The Phillies' muddled outfield situation became a little clearer Friday following the demotion of outfielder Darin Ruf to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. The move leaves Domonic Brown as the unofficial winner in the competition for the starting job in left field, a battle in which the 25-year-old had pulled away recently.
Brown extended his hitting streak to six games Friday against Atlanta and is carrying a .382 batting average during Grapefruit League action. He also has six home runs and 12 RBI.
"I'd say Domonic Brown is doing as good as you could do," manager Charlie Manuel told reporters earlier this week.
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (3/20/2013)The Philadelphia Inquirer reports Phillies manager Charlie Manuel is intrigued with the idea of using Domonic Brown, who is having a breakout spring, in the fifth spot in the lineup behind Chase Utley and Ryan Howard when a right-handed pitcher is on the hill.
"He can hit there," Manuel said. "We're not going to line up all of those left-handed hitters because when the season starts, we'll see better left-handed pitching. They're going to save those left-handed pitchers for us. I don't think we can afford to hang four or five lefties in a row."
Brown entered play Wednesday batting .397 (25 for 63) with two doubles, six homers, 12 RBI and 21 runs in 22 spring games.
This is the year for Domonic Brown
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (3/18/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown hit another home run Wednesday at the Braves, his second in three games and fifth of spring training. I don't know what more to say about the guy. It's getting to the point where I'm hyping him out of my own price range.
But he deserves it. Honestly, a breakout season for him is probably All-Star worthy. I'm talking 30 home runs and potentially a .900 OPS. He's always had good plate discipline and the raw tools. Those slight adjustments new assistant hitting coach Wally Joyner made to his stance are bringing it all together.
I just drafted him in the 11th round of a 10-team NL-only league. Colleague Al Melchior was about to do the same. That's about the most disgusted I've heard him. People are starting to believe. If you want Brown -- and you should -- you'll need to draft him as no less than your utility player.
Domonic Brown blasts off again
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (3/16/2013) Philadelphia outfielder Domonic Brown went 1 for 3 with a home run in the Phillies' 7-0 rout of the Yankees in Grapefruit League play Saturday. Brown crushed his fourth homer of the spring, a three-run drive in the fourth inning against starter Hiroki Kuroda.
He is tied for third in the majors in homers and has a .365 batting average this spring, putting him ahead in the competition for the starting job in left field.
"I would say right now, he's got the lead," manager Charlie Manuel told the Philadelphia Inquirer. "He's getting real comfortable. Also, he's getting comfortable with our team. Without a doubt, I think those are two big things. He'll come into his own."
Brown continues hot spring
(3/6/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown continued his torrid spring pace on Wednesday, going 2-for-3 with a double and a run scored.
Brown 'buying into' changes
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/27/2013) It's hard to overlook the start Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown has gotten off to at the outset of spring games. Brown has homered twice in his first four games and is batting .429 (3 for 7). It seems most of the credit for Brown's revival goes to new assistant hitting coach Wally Joyner, who has changed the way Brown grips the bat. "We straightened his hands out a little bit, allowing his wrists to cock," Joyner said. "He's a big boy. He looks great. We want to take advantage of that size and leverage. That's one of the assets that Ryan Howard has. And he uses it. He has a lot of leverage. He stays behind it. He's buying into it."
Brown boasting 'explosive' bat
by Bill Passonno | CBSSports.com (2/26/2013) Philadelphia outfielder Domonic Brown finished 1 for 2 with a solo homer during the Phillies' 4-3 win over the Yankees in a Grapefruit League matchup Tuesday. Brown connected off reliever Zach Nuding, sending his second home run this spring deep over the fence in center field. "That was a well-struck baseball ... the ball went a long ways," manager Charlie Manuel said. "He put a good swing on it: nice, short and compact, with balance at the plate. His swing is more fluid and compact. It's more explosive."
Brown making early statement
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/24/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown has gotten off to a quick start this spring as he looks to lock down a corner outfield spot in Philadelphia's lineup. Brown homered Sunday against the Phillies and is 2 for 4 with two runs and one RBI in his first two spring games. Including Friday's intrasquad game, Brown has four hits in three games and two of his hits have gone for extra bases. "We've got 10 outfielders, and somewhere along the line, probably about two-thirds of the way through spring training, we're going to have to make decisions on at least four of them," Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said, per the Philadelphia Daily News. "We're going to try to get them all some playing time where we can see them enough. If somebody jumps out and really gets going, like Brown right now, the last three days he's really swung good. He's played good in the outfield, things like that. We could settle on a guy or something."
Schmidt has hope for D. Brown
by Michael Hurcomb | CBSSports.com (2/21/2013) MLB.com reports Hall of Fame third baseman Mike Schmidt, who is in camp with the Phillies as a special instructor, was very complimentary about outfielder Domonic Brown, who has struggled at the outset of his MLB career. “From a hitting standpoint, even now he might be ahead of where I was at that time, a little better idea of hitting," Schmidt said. "I couldn’t hit a ball to the opposite field to save my butt back then. I couldn’t hit a curve ball, I couldn’t hit a slider. But I sure could hit a long home run down the left-field line and play third base. I was afforded the time to make adjustments and sort of become an everyday, consistent major league hitter. He doesn’t have that luxury. He has Darin Ruf hounding him … he’s got like six guys who want his position. For him to get that guarantee of, ‘You’re our left fielder, you’re getting 500 at-bats’ is very, very hard. It’s about time that Domonic does the things that everyone thinks he can do. And not do them over a day, but does them over a month, then two months. And that’s when he gets his name inserted in the lineup every day.”
Brown: I need 400 at-bats
by Nando Di Fino | Senior Fantasy Writer (2/14/2013) Phillies outfielder Domonic Brown told the Philadelphia Inquirer on Wednesday that if he was given 400-500 at-bats, he would be able to, "show what I'm really capable of doing." Brown, 25, has averaged 186 at-bats the last two seasons, hitting .240 with 10 total home runs and three total steals.
Brown not guaranteed anything
by Scott White | Senior Fantasy Writer (1/23/2013) With the Phillies' signing of Delmon Young Tuesday, Domonic Brown finds himself once again in a competition for playing time. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. told the Philadelphia Inquirer Tuesday that Young would be the team's everyday right fielder "in a perfect world," with Brown just one of the players in the mix in left. "Domonic Brown and Darin Ruf will be battling out in left field," Amaro said, adding that John Mayberry is "in the mix as well."
