Philadelphia Phillies prospect Tyson Gillies faces cocaine charge

CLEARWATER — Tyson Gillies, a top prospect in the Phillies' system, was arrested Friday on a felony charge of possession of cocaine.

The leftfielder, 21, acquired in December's trade that sent pitcher Cliff Lee to Seattle, was arrested by Pinellas County Sheriff's officers at 1:10 a.m. and released at 10:52 a.m. on $2,000 bond.

The Sheriff's Office said in a news release that an officer saw Gillies at about midnight June 11 on the shoulder of U.S. 19 in Clearwater waving a white shirt at passing motorists. Gillies said he was looking for friends and believed waving the shirt would help, the officer said. Gillies appeared to be intoxicated, the officer said.

Gillies told the officer he had been at a bar in Clearwater and was walking back to his hotel. When he said he didn't have enough cash for a cab ride home, the officer offered him a ride to the La Quinta Inn on U.S. 19.

After Gillies exited the cruiser, a deputy saw a small bag full of a "white powdery substance" on the floorboard of the back seat, the release said. Gillies was advised he could be charged later, and the substance was submitted for testing.

Thursday the results returned positive for cocaine, the release said. Gillies was contacted at the same hotel and arrested.

Gillies hit .238 with two home runs and six RBIs in 26 games for Double-A Reading (Pa.). He was out for two months with a left hamstring injury, rehabilitating in Clearwater. He played two games in the Gulf Coast League in Clearwater last week and aggravated the injury.

The Phillies said they were aware of the arrest but would not comment because the case remains open.