Friday, February 25, 2011
Posted: 3:45 p.m.
By Jim Salisbury
CSNPhilly.com
CLEARWATER, Fla.Tyson Gillies was one of the hot stories in Phillies camp a year ago, a golden prospect acquired in a big, headline-grabbing trade.
Everyone who watched him in the spring of 2010 came away amazed by his energy, hustle and foot speed. One day Gillies made jaws drop when he climbed the outfield wall to rob Ryan Howard of a batting practice home run. When Gillies walked through the clubhouse bare-chested, veteran players jokingly asked him to put a shirt on because his muscular physique put others to shame.
Gillies story was made all that more intriguing by his personal background. The Vancouver native is hearing impaired. He has just 50 percent hearing in his right ear and 30 percent in his left.
Gillies tale took a dramatic downward turn in June. After a night of frolicking with friends, he was arrested by Clearwater police and charged with felony cocaine possession.
Four months after the charges were dropped, Gillies is back in Clearwater preparing for spring training. Big leaguers dont have to worry about being shamed by Gillies well-conditioned, 6-2 frame. Hes headed for minor league camp as he tries to get his career back on track.
Last year was a very troubling and difficult year for me, Gillies said. Im here now, ready to put everything behind me both personally and professionally.
MLB
Im a good kid. Ive always been a good kid. Everything is clear and done with. I just want to play baseball.
Gillies, 22, had declined interview requests for weeks. On Friday, he spoke to reporters at the Phils minor-league complex. He was accompanied by several club officials, including assistant general managers Benny Looper and Chuck LaMar.
Gillies, who thanked the Phillies for their support, refused to get into details of what happened when police saw him waving his shirt on the side of a road at 3:24 a.m. on June 11. According to the police report, Gillies appeared intoxicated. He said he was trying to flag down a taxi. A police officer gave Gillies a courtesy ride to his hotel. As Gillies exited the police car, the officer noticed a small bag of white powder in the car. It later tested to be cocaine.
After the charges were dropped in October, Gillies filed a petition with Pinellas County officials to have the incident expunged from his record.
The only thing I can tell you is, whats done is done, he said. It was a positive learning experience in keeping myself out of harmful situations and watching my surroundings from now on. Ive always been a smart kid. This was the first time Ive ever gotten in trouble.
Gillies was referred to the Phillies employment assistance program, which is headed by former pitcher Dickie Noles. Citing confidentiality, LaMar could not talk about Gillies involvement in the program or the incident that occurred in June.
You are innocent until proven guilty, LaMar said. Tyson shot straight with us from the start. Hes followed the letter of the law and done everything weve asked.
Gillies had been in Florida rehabbing a nagging left hamstring injury when the incident occurred. He had been playing at Double A Reading when he suffered the injury. Baseball-wise, it was a lost season for Gillies, who had come to the Phils from Seattle in the much-publicized Cliff Lee trade of Dec. 2009. He played in just 26 games and hit .238.
The injury was troubling because I couldnt contribute to my team, Gillies said.
The off-field incident exacerbated his troubles.
It was a devastating thing for me and my family, Gillies said. The most upsetting thing to me was that people even had a chance to question my character which I value so much.
People who know me know Im one of the most hard-working and hungry people theyll ever meet. To have people doubt meits their decision, but Im still the same person Ive always been.
Gillies was acquired from Seattle along with pitchers J.C. Ramirez and Phillippe Aumont. He caught the eyes of scouts when he led the Single A California League with 44 steals in 2009. His .341 batting average was third-best in the minors and his .430 on-base percentage fifth-best that season.
The Phillies plan to send Gillies back to Reading to start this season.
Hes one of the finest athletes in our system, LaMar said. Weve never wavered one iota from a baseball standpoint of what kind of prospect he is.
E-mail Jim Salisbury at jsalisbury@comcastsportsnet.com
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