Brown takes BP, feels 'close to 100 percent'

PHILADELPHIA -- Domonic Brown has had one heck of a season.

Imagine what it could have been if he had not been sidelined the past few weeks with a right Achilles issue.

Brown has made just 12 plate appearances since Aug. 23, but he still entered Thursday's game hitting .274 with 18 doubles, four triples, 27 home runs and 81 RBIs. Incredibly, despite the missed time, Brown still ranks fourth in the National League in home runs and eighth in RBIs.

He said he hopes to play before the end of the season, although he offered no timetable for his return.

Brown took batting practice Thursday afternoon, which he said would be a good test for him.

"I'm just trying to finish the season being healthy," he said. "If I'm feeling it, if it's bothering me, then I'm not going to play around with it. But I feel good right now. I feel like I'm close to 100 percent."