Phils’ official: ‘Don’t give up on Phillippe Aumont’

Revue de presse

By Jim Salisbury, CSNPhilly.com, April 4, 2011

Phillies minor leaguers broke spring-training camp over the weekend and will begin their seasons this week.

Shortly after camp ended, Chuck LaMar, the assistant general manager who oversees player development for the Phillies, was asked to name the bright light of camp, the guy who made everyone sit up and take notice.

Photo ci-dessus : Phillippe Aumont had a dismal season in 2010, going 3-11 with a 5.68 ERA at Double-A Reading and Single-A Clearwater. (AP)

His answer might surprise you.

“Phillippe Aumont had an outstanding spring,” LaMar said enthusiastically. “He had impressive outing after impressive outing.”

Aumont, 22, was one of the three players that the Phillies received from Seattle in the Cliff Lee trade of December 2009. The 6-foot-7, man-mountain righthander had a dismal season in 2010, going 3-11 with a 5.68 ERA at Double-A Reading and Single-A Clearwater. He was used mostly as a starter.

Now, Aumont is back in the bullpen role in which he was used in Seattle’s system. He thrived in spring training and will open the season in Reading’s bullpen, where he will share important innings late in the game with Justin DeFratus, one of the organization’s top relief prospects.

“Phillippe Aumont’s confidence is back,” LaMar said. “He likes the role he’s in. He’s throwing strikes with power stuff – 94, 95 miles per hour with a curveball and a sinker with late life. We really like what we’ve seen of this guy.”

Revue de presse publiée par Jacques Lanciault.