Phillies’ Ibanez likely to return this weekend
Philadelphia outfielder Raul Ibanez, who was the leading NL MVP candidate when he went down injured, has played in two minor-league rehab starts this week and will suit up again in Triple-A on Thursday night. The Phillies will then determine whether he is ready to return.
“Right now, he’s fine and kind of improving every day,” Phils general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said.
The 37-year-old Ibanez went 0-for-2 with a walk and run scored in five innings for Double-A Reading on Monday, then 1-for-2 with a walk and run scored for Triple-A Lehigh Valley on Tuesday. He was off on Wednesday.
“I got to run the bases a little bit, and I got to run around in the outfield a little bit,” said Ibanez, who was unsure when he would return to the Phils. “I’m feeling good about it.”
He could suit up with the parent club Friday, when the Phillies open a three-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Citizens Bank Park. Earlier this week, Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said he wanted to see Ibanez get about 12 plate appearances before he rejoins the team.
It appears Ibanez certainly will be able to play in the All-Star Game, as he earned his first trip to that event, although he has made it clear that he needs to be activated by the Phillies and feel fully healthy before he considers a trip to Busch Stadium.
Ibanez was hitting .312 with 22 homers and 59 RBIs before landing on the disabled list June 18 with a strained left groin.
The Phils could use him, as they struggled mightily when he went on the DL, going 8-11 since – which included eight losses in nine games. That number doesn’t look worse because the team has begun to play better, winning four of five heading into Thursday’s series finale with the Reds – bet on the game at WagerWeb.com.
Philadelphia leads the NL East by two games entering Thursday.
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