Gary

Brown

Good news. Brown was hit with a backswing during batting practice, but fortunately all tests came back negative. The 23-year-old outfielder is hitting .285/.346/.402 with seven home runs, 37 RBI, 30 stolen bases and a .749 OPS in 113 games at the Double-A level this season and is a possibility to be called up to the majors when rosters expand in September.

The 25-year-old outfielder also walked and swiped a base in the game. He had a very disappointing season in his first taste of Triple-A in 2013, slashing just .231/.286/.375 with 13 homers 50 RBI and 17 stolen bases, but remains a key part of the Giants future plans. With a strong showing in the spring, he could crack the Opening Day roster as a reserve outfielder.

Brown’s star has dimmed a bit since his breakout 2011, hitting just .231/.286/.375 at Triple-A last season. But the 25-year-old was once a top prospect in the game, and the Giants couldn’t take the risk of losing him in December’s Rule 5 Draft. He’ll likely be given every chance to make the team out of spring training.

It’s the third time since spring training that the former top prospect has been designated for assignment. Brown has batted just .202/.254/.331 at the Triple-A level this season.

Brown was designated for assignment by the Halos on June 1 and passed through waivers unclaimed. The 26-year-old former first-round pick owns a weak .680 OPS in 1,340 career plate appearances at the Triple-A level. He has logged only seven career major league plate appearances.

Brown was one of several cuts on Wednesday in Giants camp. The 25-year-old outfielder did not have a great showing last summer at Triple-A, but the Giants are still high on his potential and could give him a look at some point in 2014. Brown as a first-round pick in 2010.

This game was his fourth game with two-plus hits in his past six games, and he is hitting .333/.375/.533 over that time. Brown is unlikely to get a promotion to San Francisco without an injury, but he plays a great center field and, if he’s able to hit .280 with some power, could be a starting center fielder for many teams in the major leagues. He is no longer the prospect he was in 2011 and 2012, but he could be a very useful player.

It seems like just yesterday that the Giants refused to include him in the trade to the Mets for Carlos Beltran, trading Zack Wheeler instead. Since the end of 2011, Brown has struggled, hitting .279/.347/.385 for Double-A Richmond in 2012 and .231/.286/.375 for Triple-A Fresno in 2013. Brown seems to have taken a step forward in 2013, as six of his 13 hits have gone for extra bases. He is unlikely to see time in San Francisco without an injury, but if he keeps up this level of production he could be a tempting mid-season promotion.

The former top prospect never worked out in San Francisco, but he’s still just 26 and is worth a shot for the Cardinals. Of course, it’s not a great landing spot for him as far as potential playing time goes, as there will likely have to be an injury or two before he gets a promotion.

The move clears a spot for right-hander Mitch Harris on the 40-man roster. Brown, 26, was just claimed off waivers from the Giants earlier this month and he could soon be on the move again.