Phils ex-top picks Savery and Hewitt still hopeful

Joe Savery is going to Clearwater after he completes his fourth minor-league season next week.

Anthony Hewitt, on the other hand, is going to stare at clear water during a cruise through some Caribbean islands.

Both of the Phillies' former No. 1 picks hope those destinations help serve as career-altering forks in the road.

Savery, the 19th overall selection in the 2007 draft, is headed to the Florida Instructional League to be evaluated as a hitting prospect, a potential career change that is already off to an encouraging start at triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Hewitt, the 24th overall selection in 2008, has been excused from the FIL this fall because the Phillies feel he's more in need of some mental relaxation after a long and difficult season with single-A Lakewood.

In his fourth professional season as a pitcher, Savery went 1-11 with a 4.84 ERA in 27 games, and the organization decided last month to see if the lefthanded pitcher could make it to the big leagues as a lefthanded hitter. He's ready for the challenge.

"Obviously there was a reason I wasn't drafted as a hitter," Savery said. "I had some holes, and I know it would be very hard . . . and it will take a lot of work. I think I'm strong enough, and I enjoy it enough that I think I could do it."

Savery had a career .356 batting average at Rice University, and he has done nothing to disparage his reputation as a hitter with Lehigh Valley this season. Going into Friday night's game against Pawtucket, Savery was hitting .342 with two doubles, a home run and four RBIs in 38 at-bats. In three games as the designated hitter last month, he went 6 for 13 with two RBIs.

Chuck LaMar, the Phillies' assistant general manager in charge of player development, said Savery will focus entirely on hitting when he goes to the FIL later this month.

"He's done remarkably well for someone who hasn't swung a bat in a long time," LaMar said. "His approach is solid, and he's always had a sweet type swing and good pitch recognition."

Savery's stint in the FIL will likely determine if he'll open next season as a hitter rather than a pitcher, which seems to be the more likely scenario given his recent success as a hitter and his lack of it on the mound. If he does become a hitter, he'll need a position other than DH.