Skip to main content

Off-season League Updates: Notes on Hernandez, Galvis, Bastardo & More

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we'll have a weekly rundown of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for the latest on many familiar names, some top prospects and plenty more.

Venezuelan Winter League- 

Second baseman Cesar Hernandez- The 23-year-old is 6-for-29 (.207 avg) in his last eight games.  Overall in 31 games for Margarita, Hernandez, who has also been playing center field, has posted a .254 average with two home runs, 15 RBI and two steals.  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.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis- The 23-year-old is batting .295 with eight doubles, one triple and two homers along with 12 RBI in 27 games.  The switch-hitting Galvis is batting .295 from both sides of the plate for Zulia.  Galvis sported a .234 average with six home runs and 19 RBI in 70 big league games this year.

RHP Severino Gonzalez- The 21-year-old, who was honored as the Phils' Paul Owens Award winner this year, has posted a 0-1 record along with an 8.10 ERA in four appearances for La Guaira.  In 6 2/3 innings in the Venezuelan League, Gonzalez has struck out five batters and walked seven.  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.

LHP Cesar Jimenez- The 29-year-old has tallied a 0-1 record and a 5.68 ERA in six appearances for Lara. Jimenez has struck out six and walked two in 6 1/3 innings.  In 19 big league games this year, Jimenez posted a 1-1 record along with a 3.71 ERA and a .226 batting average against.


Mexican Winter League...

LHP Manuel Chavez- The 19-year-old has a 0-2 record with a 3.60 ERA and a .308 batting average against in 16 relief appearances for Mexicali.  In 10 innings Chavez has struck out 10 batters and walked four.  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 went 11-for-20 over a six game stretch last week.  Overall in 25 games Valle has a .266 average with five doubles, a home run and three RBI.  Valle sported a .203 batting average with 12 homers and 41 RBI in 98 games with Double-A Reading this year.


Dominican Winter League...

LHP Antonio Bastardo- The 28-year-old has a 1.35 ERA in seven outings for the Gigantes.  Through 6 2/3 innings, Bastardo has struck out 12 batters while walking two.  In 48 big league games this year, before missing time due to a banned substance suspension, Bastardo had a 3-2 record with two saves and a 2.32 ERA.

3B Maikel Franco-  The 21-year-old has been spending considerable time at first base for the Gigantes.  In his last four games, Franco is 0-for-14.  Overall, in 27 games the righty batting Franco has tallied a .255 average with six doubles and nine RBI.  Franco had an excellent 2013, mashing 31 homers and driving in 103 runs in 134 games with Clearwater and Reading during the regular season.

Catcher Tommy Joseph- The 22-year-old righty hitter has a .238 average with two doubles and two RBI through seven games for the Estrellas.  Joseph missed considerable time with concussion related issues this year and batted .179 in 36 minor league games.

OF Leandro Castro- The 24-year-old sports a .237 average with five doubles and six RBI in 20 games for the Estrellas.  In 117 games for Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year, the righty batting Castro tallied a .256 average with eight home runs and 55 RBI.

RHP Luis Garcia- The 26-year-old has a 1-0 record with a 4.05 ERA and a .227 batting average against through seven games for the Estrellas.  In 24 games at three levels of the minors this year, Garcia posted a 3.73 ERA and a .237 batting average against. 

RHP Hector Neris- The 24-year-old sports a 1-0 record along with a 1.35 ERA while striking out three and walking five in 6 2/3 innings pitched for the Toros.  Neris posted a 6-4 record with a 4.55 ERA and a .241 batting average against in 46 games this year for Double-A Reading. 

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly.  On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne.  The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska.  In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be.  He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line.  And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line.  He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

RHP Pipkin headed to AFL after hot August

After completing what was easily the best month of his career, righty hurler Dominic Pipkin is ready to face the tough competition of the prominent Arizona Fall Leage.   Pipkin, who was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2018, has had moderate success in his five years as a pro, posting a 4.93 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 mark and a .260 batting average against mostly at the lower levels on the minors. After missing time this year with an unspecified ailment, the six-foot-four 170-pounder proved to be healthy as he dominated AA competition in nine appearances with the Reading Fightin Phils during August.  Pipkin's impressive production resulted in a 1-0 record with a save and a 0.96 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings. The California native says his efforts to improve have helped him touch 100 MPH on the radar gun, while his fastball velocity is mostly around 96 MPH.   Pipkin's arsenal includes that improved fastball as well as a slider while his curve