Wells returns following second LASIK surgery

ATLANTA -- Phillies outfielder Casper Wells vanished for a few weeks, and maybe more than a few people figured he wouldn't be back.

"I'm the ghost, I just disappear," he said Friday afternoon at Turner Field. "I was here the whole time, didn't you guys see me?"

The Phillies on Friday activated Wells from the disabled list, where he had been since Aug. 26 due to vision issues. Wells had a second round of LASIK eye surgery to correct a flaw in his vision that left him wearing contacts that dried out his eyes, which caused him serious problems on the field.

"It's nothing like, 'Oh my gosh,' but it's the fact that I can see clearly without a contact in," Wells said of his improved vision. "The vision wasn't sharp enough for me to see without contacts and perform, so I had to wear them. It was just kind of regressing. Now, I don't have to wear contacts or glasses. My vision is sharp. I was seeing 20/15 on the charts. I feel like I'm seeing comfortably without a strain, so that's good."

Wells has been with four organizations this season. He has hit a combined .128 (12-for-94) with two doubles and one RBI in 101 plate appearances with the A's, White Sox and Phillies. He joined the Blue Jays for a bit earlier this season, but never played in a game.

Wells will play winter ball after spending most of the season shuffling teams and getting limited playing time. He is eligible for salary arbitration, but is expected to be non-tendered.

Players like Freddy Galvis and Cesar Hernandez also will play winter ball. Hernandez is expected to get some playing time in left field, and maybe see some pregame action at third base. The Phillies are trying to make Hernandez as versatile as possible. He currently only plays second base and center field.