Raul Ibanez finally got back in the swing of things with his first hit on his rehab assignment.
He went 1-2 with a walk and a run scored for the Reading Phils. Ibanez got a few chances to test out that groin of his while running the bases and seemed to look OK doing it.
He is scheduled to come back again on Thursday and play for the AAA Lehigh Iron Pigs before the team decides when to bring him back up to the big club.
Raul has been voted to start in his first All-Star game appearance next weekend and everyone knows how much of an honor that is for him. Charlie Manuel has said that even if Raul hasn’t played in the big leagues before then, he still could get into the All-Star game. He needs to get his timing down, and facing major league pitchers would help in that regard.
Hopefully everything goes well for him in Lehigh Valley and he can join the Phillies again for this weekend’s series. The team definitely needs him. He has been behind their offense all season and they have struggled without him, barring that 22 run outburst on Monday night.
Get well soon Ribbie, we need you.
-KK
