Kelly Dugan Swinging Hot Bat For Double-A Reading

By Matt Leon

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) --- August has been very good to Reading Fightin' Phils outfielder Kelly Dugan.

In eight games this month with the Phillies' Double-A affiliate, the 23-year-old, lefthanded hitter is batting .400 with seven runs scored, six walks, four doubles, and three RBI.

"Feel good," Dugan told KYW Newsradio after a Wednesday night win over Harrisburg. "After close to 200 at-bats (now 201), feeling like I'm getting in the flow of it. A lot of these guys, obviously, have some more at-bats but, for me, I'm falling right into form right now."

Production is nothing new for Dugan, who was a second-round draft pick of the Phillies in 2009 out of high school in California. He has hit at every level. This season he's batting .294 for Reading with a .391 on-base percentage. In 61 games, he has 4 home runs and 28 RBI. Last year, in 112 games with Reading and Clearwater, he hit .291 with 20 home runs.

About the only thing that has held Dugan back during his career is his health. He has battled several injuries during his time in the Phillies' organization. This year he missed a chunk of time with an oblique problem and he also sat out about a week after getting hit by a pitch in the hand. But he's healthy now and that's what matters.

"I'm just not even thinking about that (injuries) anymore though," Dugan said. "Because it just doesn't mean anything right now. I just have to go out and take the field everyday and do my best. So for me, I'm not even thinking about it really."

Dugan says he has grown as an overall player in the years since he was drafted.

"I feel better in everything," Dugan said. "Just playing more ball games, getting more at bats. Everything, running the bases, getting jumps in the outfield on defense and just knowing the game. Knowing myself as a player, I think all that has gotten better."

If Dugan keeps playing like he is now, the big leagues are definitely in his future. But he says he can't worry about when that call comes.

"Just take it day by day," Dugan said. "There's nothing else you can do. Whenever the team decides for that decision, they'll know. Because they have the experience when they think guys are ready. That's all I'm focusing on right now, just going out there and playing everyday."

Reading hosts Altoona tonight in the opener of a three-game series.

You can follow Matt on Twitter @mattleonkyw.

Check Out These Sports Stories: