4/24 -- Movin' on up

Just got this note from the Phillies ...

* RHP Chris Booker had his rehabilitation assignment transferred to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).
* LHP Cole Hamels (pictured) has been promoted to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre (AAA).

Both announcements are significant, for different reasons.

Booker, the hard-throwing reliever acquired in the Rule 5 draft in December, could be the solution to the Phillies' middle relief woes. But, he'll need to prove his surgically repaired knee can hold up. Booker was OK, not great, in Class A Clearwater during the first phase of his rehab. If he looks good in Class AAA, the Phillies can promote him and send down RHP Geoff Geary, who doesn't have to clear waivers and has been struggling the past two weeks.

But, a decision must be made by May 11. As a Rule 5 pick, Booker must either be activated by the Phillies or offered back to his previous team, the Washington Nationals, within 30 days of his first rehab assignment.

Hamels, meanwhile, is the gifted lefty with the sparkling career minor league numbers (237 strikeouts in 172.1 innings). But injuries have been his downfall. First, a broken hand (which happened in a bar fight). Then, a back problem. There have been other assorted maladies, too. Hamels is finally healthy, and has been so good the Phillies decided to skip him over Class AA Reading, where he made three strong starts last year.

I covered one of them last July, in which Hamels struck out New York Mets' prospect Lastings Milledge three times in as many at-bats. Milledge had no chance, and there wasn't another Class AA pitcher who made him look so silly. The Phillies will never admit it, but if Hamels dominates in Class AAA, he could be in the major-league rotation by July.

Stay tuned.