Two Players of the Month worth watching
News blogs, sports blogs, entertainment blogs, and more from Philly.com, The Philadelphia Inquirer and the Philadelphia Daily News.
Two Players of the Month worth watching
David Murphy, Daily News Staff Writer
Among the many press releases that land in the inbox each month is a dispatch that announces the Players of the Month from the Phillies' minor league organization. The awards are nice individual honors, but they have little relevance to the big picture.
Today, though, the two players honored by the Phillies for August should catch your eye. Both have boosted their stock this season. Both should be in big league spring training next season. And both could play their way into consideration for the 2012 Opening Day roster.
Freddy Galvis is only 21 years old, but he has already spent five seasons in the Phillies' organization. He drew raves for his glove work during his 2008 season at low-A Lakewood, but the Phillies spent the next couple years waiting for his bat to catch up. He hit .238/.288/.588 at Lakewood in '08, .247/.280/.307 at Clearwater in 2009, and .233/.276/.311 at Reading in 2010.
This season, though, Galvis has finally showed some significant progress. In 104 games at Reading, he hit .273/.326/.400 with eight home runs before earning a promotion to Triple-A Lehigh Valley, where he is hitting .298/.315/.364 with no home runs through 33 games.
Most encouraging is the development of his power: In his first three years in the minors, just 35 of his 220 hits (15.9 percent) went for extra bases. Over the last two years, 66 of his 268 hits (24.6 percent) have gone for extra bases. He is making more contact and driving the ball with more frequency, which is what you hope to see as a young hitter develops. It is probably a stretch to think that Galvis will end up on the 2012 Opening Day roster, let alone be in consideration to replace Jimmy Rollins if the Gold Glover signs elsewhere as a free agent. But a solid showing in spring training and continued improvement at Lehigh Valley next season could do a lot to hasten his rise to the big leagues.
A more likely contender for an Opening Day spot is Joe Savery, the erstwhile 2007 first-round draft pick who went from the rotation to the lineup before finally finding his niche in the bullpen, where he is 4-0 with a 1.80 ERA, 9.4 K/9 and 2.2 BB/9 in 18 appearances at Lehigh Valley this season.
Savery, the Pitcher of the Month for August, should get an opportunity to compete for a spot in the Phillies bullpen next spring. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said last week that Savery has "resurrected" his career with his performance as a reliever this season. His velocity has risen, hitting 92-93, and his slider has been a good pitch for him. It has only been 18 appearances. But he is definitely back on the radar.
Download our NEW iPhone/Android app for easy access to all of our Phillies coverage, plus app-exclusive videos and analysis. Get it here.
If something happens to Rollins and you can add someone to the roster the Phils would be stupid not to add Galvis and play him. The Phils will NOT make it to the WS with a clunker like Martinez at SS. He has no range and is slow a-foot. Good God; he can't even bunt. Valdez is better defensivly but can't hit. Although he can bunt for a hit and pitch.— garcia7- I agree with fellow LSC/U alum David about Galvis. I saw him play at Reading last year and this year and he isn't the same hitter. He hits with more confidence and power now. Amazing how players can turn it around after one year in the minors. Good to see.— Bob1
- I'm not sold on Pence in the clutch. The guy has zero plate discipline and won't be thrown strikes in meaningful October situations. He's tall enough to get lucky on some of his hacks, but that's going to be his only hope. Nobody will throw him pitches to hit because they don't have to. He'll swing at 'em six inches off the plate.— jtj06
- I really like the idea of moving Jimmy to 3rd in a year or two. He still is one of the best SS in MLB, but his range seems to be a bit less, and I have seen guys beat out weak grounders to him that no way he didn't throw them out earlier in his career. One or two years is all Polanco has left in him so the timing would be perfect for Galvis to move up.— Paul SoTX
- If you know anything about baseball, then you know that lefthanded relievers worth even two cents are impossible to just "pick-up". If a lefty is just below average, he has a job. So SHUT THE F- Up about the Phillies not addressing a SECOND!!!!!!! lefthanded reliever. No such thing available. Stick with fantasy baseball.— UncleStosh
- Like to see Galvis and Savery next year in spring training. Phillies have been pretty good in selecting shortstops over the years starting with Bowa......need to identify a future third baseman in order to keep this thing on a roll into the future....— DelawareRiverRat
- no way does Galvis sniff the playoff roster. They have Martinez and Valdez that have done a good job filling in for injuries.— Flyers2001
- With a name like "Savery" he should make for an ideal closer.— scribbles
- and Savery can hit too...— docboy
- Larry Bowa came up early and took 3 years and 4 spring trainings with Whitey Ashburn before he learned how to hit. I say bring Galvis up as soon as the playoffs are completed. I'd like to see him play everyday for a week and bat 8th. If Rollins comes back too soon and reinjures muscle would Galvis get a shot at the playoff roster?— garcia7
- Rizz fans missing the boat on their hero. Is a slow bat, AA careerist who would be a mess in majors. Moss can really hit, run, throw, field. Hope I made myself clear. A rolling Moss gathers no K's.— NewMick314
- Jay Grace sucks and is a LOSER!!!!!— kjgallen
- they just keep pumping up savery due to the fact that they were stupid to draft him in the first place. even andrew carpenter and jason grilli had great numbers in the iron pig bullpen this year, so im not reading much..when i saw him pitch in relief in reading, he got lit.
would be nice to have a lefty other than bastardo to deal with fielder, mccann/freeman, AGonz or Granderson, in the playoffs...cant believe they left that unaddressed.— jim715 - dull.....Carlos Rivero,3rd base, has also somewhat progressed.— Romus
- yeah assuming they resign Rollins—and I can't see how they can't—the smart move is starting to look like bringing up Galvis in 2013(or maybe late 2012) and seeing if he can play shortstop everyday; then moving Rollins to 3rd to replace Polanco whose contract would be expiring. Need another guy in the mix of course in case it doesn't immediately work out. I'll leave that to Ruben. Glad to hear that Savery is finding himself; they're gonna need him.— aintnorep
- Galvis has done more for his career in the minors than anyone with the exception of Mayberry...He was looked at as pure utilityman because of a limp bat, but he has really come on..He still needs to learn the strike zone better...probably ready 2013.— bearsfriend
- Hey Murph, Do you still hate the Phils for picking up Pence? remember your article about him not being a good player and the Phils should'nt trade for him?— younged
- Savery has been great as a reliever at Clearwater and LV, a spot he got switched to halfway through the season...His fastball has even hit 94, and has passed Zagurski and Perez on the depth chart as a lefthanded relief specialist...Although not eligible to the Phils in the playoffs, he's an odds on favorite in the Spring to bag a spot if he maintains his command...And he could help as a pinch hitter in those weird extra inning affairs if he can't pitch...Or maybe be used in long relief so it doesn't matter if he bats..— bearsfriend
- @dull...what did you think of Steven Susdorf?— bearsfriend
- Galvis' growth is great to see. He still needs another full season in AAA and Jimmy still has a few good years left. If for some reason, Rollins does not resign here, I like the play of both our backups Valdez and Martinez. We've shown we can win with either one in the lineup. As far as Savery goes, lets see what he can do next training camp to win a spot as the 2nd lefty out of the pen.— bradco
- Rizzoti is the left-handed power bat they need in the post season. He can outhit Gload with his eyes closed.— Russ
Comment removed.- I watched two position players at AA who caught my eye this season. First baseman Matt Rizzotti finished strong with left handed pop hitting 24 homers to go with 84 RBIs and played in more games than any one else in the Phils minor league system. Center fielder Derrick Mitchell played in the third most games in the Phils minor system and combined a rare combination of power, run production and speed to hit 19 homers, drive in 79 runs and steal 20 bases. His 118 points by combining these three categories was the highest total of any player in the entire Phillies minor leagues. Amazingly he was not even scheduled to play center for Reading as Tyson Gillies was unable to shake the injury bug and his replacement was to be a veteran six year free agent center fielder was gone for the season after breaking down early in the season forcing Mitchell to fill the void in center.— Dull
- Jay Grace. Blows and has never played baseball.— Phillyexp
- dankil13-Was thinking the same thing-The guy can hit— outta work
- Might as well bring Savery up this year... we only have 1 lefty in the 'Pen and he is better LH PH option than Ross Gload!— dankil13
- Comment removed.
- DeFratus, Aumont too and I hope also Moss. We shall see.— Koons
- Any chance either of these guys come up after the pigs are done?— Hammer859
- How about Savery as another lefty in the BP this year?? Always good to have one— FABER
