Domonic Brown injury just slight delay

The first week of spring training games can be frustrating for more casual fans, with few television broadcasts, only brief views of the veterans and lots of high uniform numbers. For prospect watchers, however, this is the golden hour, as young players are rewarded for their prospect status by playing with the big leaguers, while others take their first steps in legitimately competing for jobs. After just a handful of games, here are 10 players that are catching teams, scouts and even fans' eyes.

Domonic Brown, OF, Philadelphia Phillies

To call Brown's brief spring training an up-and-down affair doesn't really do it justice. The departure of Jason Werth via free agency seemed to hand right-field duties to Brown, but Phillies officials were cautious in the offseason, insisting that Brown would battle Ben Francisco for the job. Charlie Manuel seemed more optimistic early in camp, but a 0-for-15 start to his spring with nine strikeouts moved the needle toward the negative once again.

It all became moot Saturday when Brown finally got a hit but also injured his hand, with initial examinations indicating hamate bone surgery is in his immediate future. That will leave him out until late April, at the earliest, and he'll likely have to prove himself fully healthy at Triple-A before getting another big league look. This is just a delay; he's still the long-term solution at the position and a potential All-Star.

To read the rest of Kevin Goldstein's list of promising prospect performances from this spring, you must be an ESPN Insider.

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