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Off-season League Updates: Giles Stands Out, Robles Added to the Mix

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly run down of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for loads of details on some familiar names, prospects and more.

Arizona Fall League (seven Phils prospects play together on the Peoria Javelinas)...

RHP Kenny Giles- The 23-year-old, was the Phillies' lone representative in the AFL Rising Stars Game over the weekend.  In the annual all-star exhibition Giles threw a scoreless frame, striking out two and walking one while impressing many with his 98-100 MPH fastball and his strong slider.  Overall, Giles has allowed six earned runs while striking out eight and walking seven batters in six innings for Peoria, although all of the runs were surrendered in one very unlucky outing.  The right-hander missed considerable time during the 2013 regular season with two oblique strains.  Giles, a 7th round pick in 2011, posted a 6.31 ERA in 24 games with Class A Advanced Clearwater this year.

Catcher Cameron Rupp- In nine games, Rupp has posted a .324 batting average with two doubles, a triple, a homer and six RBI.  The 25-year-old made his big league debut with the Phillies in 2013, sporting a .308 average in four games.  Rupp was the Phils' 3rd round draft pick in 2010. 

OF Aaron Altherr- The 22-year-old has gone 0-for-11 in three games since bouncing back from a hand ailment that caused him to miss nearly two weeks of action.  Altherr was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2009.  The six-foot-five 195-pounder batted .275 with 12 homers, 69 RBI and 23 steals in 123 games for Class A Advanced Clearwater this year.

OF Cameron Perkins- In 12 games, the 23-year-old is batting .273 with two doubles, two triples and two RBI.  Perkins was the Phils' 6th round pick in 2012 out of Purdue.  In 103 games with Clearwater this year, the righty batting youngster posted a .295 average with six home runs and 53 RBI.

RHP Kyle Simon- Since allowing a run in his 2013 AFL debut, the 23-year-old has not permitted a run in his following five appearances.  Simon, who was acquired from the Orioles in the 2012 Jim Thome trade, posted a 2-6 record with a 4.45 ERA and 11 saves in 45 appearances for Double-A Reading this year.

LHP Austin Wright- The 24-year-old has allowed five earned runs in seven innings (6.43 ERA) while striking out seven and walking three over six appearances.  Wright, who was the Phils' 8th round draft pick out of the University of Mississippi in 2011, posted a 6-5 record with a 5.92 ERA in 27 games (16 starts) with Double-A Reading this year.

RHP Mike Nesseth- The 25-year-old allowed five earned runs over two innings in his most recent outing last week.  Overall in six appearances for the Javelinas, Nesseth sports a 0-1 record with a 9.00 ERA.  In 48 games at three levels this year, Nesseth tallied a 1-5 record along with nine saves and a 2.50 ERA.


Venezuelan Winter League...

Infielder Cesar Hernandez-  The 23-year-old switch hitter is batting .293 with four doubles, two home runs, 12 RBI and a stolen base in 15 games for Margarita.  Hernandez batted .289 with five doubles and 10 RBI in 34 games with the Phillies and was honored as a Triple-A All-Star this past season.

Infielder Edgar Duran- The switch hitting 22-year-old is 3-for-9 (.333 avg) with a triple and two RBI in three games with Margarita thus far.  Duran hasn't played in a game since October 12th.  In 117 games with Reading this year, Duran posted a .225 average with four homers and 33 RBI.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis- In 12 games the 23-year-old has posted a .267 average with three doubles, one homer, four RBI and three steals for Zulia.  The switch-hitting Galvis missed some time in the early going with a bicep strain.  Galvis sported a .234 average with six home runs and 19 RBI in 70 big league games this year.

Outfielder Wilmer Oberto- The lefty hitting 20-year-old has no hits in four at bats for Zulia.  Oberto posted a .316 average with six home runs and 45 RBI in 51 games in the rookie level Gulf Coast League this year.

RHP Severino Gonzalez- The 21-year-old, who was honored as the Phils' Paul Owens Award winner this year, has allowed three earned runs in two innings of work in two appearances for La Guaira.  In the regular season, Gonzalez posted a 7-5 record with a 2.00 ERA and a 10.33 K/9 mark in 25 games at three levels.

RHP Justin Friend- The 27-year-old has had a trio of rough outings in which he has allowed nine total earned runs in one total inning for La Guaira.  Overall in six appearances, the righty has a 12.79 ERA.  Friend posted a 5-4 record with a 3.79 ERA in 46 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year.

LHP Mauricio Robles- In two outings, the 24-year-old has allowed an earned run in 2/3 inning over two appearances for La Guaira.  Robles appeared in three games with the big league Phils in 2013.  Additionally, Robles sported a 1.97 ERA and a .167 batting average against in 51 combined games at Reading and Lehigh Valley this year.

OF Steve Susdorf- Thus far in six games, the 27-year-old is 3-for-19 (.158 avg) with two RBI for Caracas. Susdorf has not played since October 18th.  Susdorf, who was drafted in the 19th round in 2008, played in three big league games with the Phillies this season.

1B/DH Jim Murphy- Through 18 games, the righty batting slugger is batting .298 with two homers and 10 RBI for Aragua.  Murphy, 28, was a Double-A Eastern League All-Star with Reading in 2013.

Catcher Gabriel Lino- The 20-year-old is hitless in two at bats in three games played for Lara.  Lino was the other player, along with Simon, that was acquired from Baltimore for Jim Thome.  The righty batting Lino posted a .254 average with four home runs and 32 RBI in 56 games with Class A short-season Williamsport and Class A Lakewood in 2013.



Dominican Winter League...

3B Maikel Franco- Through 11 games for Cibao, the 21-year-old is batting .333 with three doubles, four RBI and two steals.  The righty batting Franco slammed 31 homers and drove in 103 runs with just one steal in 134 games with Clearwater and Reading this year.

OF Leandro Castro- The 24-year-old is batting .295 with four doubles and six RBI in 11 games with the Estrellas.  In 117 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year, Castro sported a .256 average with eight home runs and 55 RBI.

RHP Hector Neris- In four appearances with the Toros, the 24-year-old right-hander has allowed one earned run in 3 2/3 innings while striking out one and walking two.  Neris, 24, had a 6-4 record with a 4.55 ERA and a .241 batting average against in 46 games this year for Reading.

RHP Juan Sosa- The 24-year-old right-hander has appeared in three games for Licey, allowing no runs while striking out three batters in 2 1/3 innings.  In 42 combined games at Class A Advanced Clearwater and Double-A Reading this year, Sosa sported a 5-5 record with three saves and a 4.77 ERA. 


Mexican Winter League...

LHP Manuel Chavez- The 19-year-old has a 0-2 record with a 2.35 ERA in 12 relief appearances for Mexicali.  In 7 2/3 innings Chavez has struck out seven batters and walked three.  This year with the Phils' Venezuelan Summer League team Chavez tallied a 9-0 record with a 2.18 ERA in 14 starts.

Catcher Sebastian Valle- The righty batting 23-year-old is 1-for-12 in his past five games for Los Mochis.  Overall in 11 games, Valle is batting .167 with a home run and one RBI.  Valle sported a .203 batting average with 12 homers and 41 RBI in 98 games with Reading this year. 

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