Be prepared Phillies fans.  Kris Benson might soon be on his way…

The 33 year-old pitcher threw his second extended spring training game yesterday and looked strong.  Benson threw 75 pitches (four-plus innings), where he allowed one run and three hits, while striking out four.  More importantly, Benson showed some added velocity to his fastball (topped at 90 MPH) and was pain-free after the outing.

Benson’s next stop will be a minor league game, pitching for the Clearwater Threshers on Sunday.  His pitch count will remain at 75, but given the varied setbacks Benson’s had this spring, a minor league start is a big step.

There’s no timetable for Benson’s return. Estimations range from late-June to early-July.  It all depends on how Benson fairs in his rehab starts, and no new setbacks develop.

Another factor to consider is if Benson remains with the Phillies.  After Benson re-negotiated his contract with the Phillies, a clause was added, alowing Benson to become a free agent if he’s not on the 40-man roster.  Odds are he will not be added to the roster by Sunday, but Benson has repeatedly said he wants to pitch for the Phillies.  Should Benson choose to stay with the Phillies, he’ll eventually be inserted in the rotation (barring no more setbacks of course).