Michael Bourn, the speedy centerfielder for the Reading Phillies has been called up to AAA Scranton. Effective after Monday night’s 9-6 Reading victory, the Phillies made the move. Bourn had been selected to the Eastern League all-star team for the second season in a year, and apparently this was enough for the Phillies to bump Bourn up to being only one step away from Philadelphia. He finally goes farther away from the big club to get closer. Here’s to Michael Bourn and a 1.5 exciting years of baseball played at Reading, and hopefully even better baseball in the future. The 23 year old man has showed flashes of brilliance, has baseball smarts and a good head on his shoulders. He works the count, plays great defense, and is smart on the basepaths, utilizing his speed to its maximum capacity.
Should he delight in Scranton, the Phillies are going to have a logjam in centerfield going into next season with Aaron Rowand, Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn all capable of playing, and Chris Roberson also serving as a useable utility player. Perhaps Rowand should be dealt while his value is still high enough to make room for Victorino/Bourn.
You raise an interesting point…what happens if Bourn really excels at AAA? The logical thing to do would be to trade Rowand. I hate to do it, but if it helps the team…
Yeah, I think it would be wise to at least look at deals for Rowand. If we could get a decent starting pitcher for him, I’d do it.