Galvis Continues Impressive Spring
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Galvis Continues Impressive Spring
Marc Narducci
Freddy Galvis isn’t trying to do too much, is listening to the veterans and is just putting his head down and working hard.
He’s playing a new position, and ready to learn it on the Major League level, yet Galvis is obviously enjoying his stay with the Phillies.
He’s expected to be the starting opening day second baseman, with Chase Utley out and Galvis is taking nothing for granted.
“I just have to keep working hard,” he said after going 2 for 3 with a triple and RBI in the Phillies 4-3 exhibition win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday at Citizens Bank Park.
A career shortstop, Galvis has made a smooth transition to being Jimmy Rollins’ double play partner at second base.
“I knew he could play defense and to me, making the adjustment to second base wasn’t that hard for him,” Phillies manager Charlie Manuel said.
The key for Galvis, a .246 career minor league hitter, is how he will do on the offensive end.
This spring he is now batting .273 (22 for 81). He has struck out eight times and walked twice, so selectively will be a key.
“I think his hitting will keep improving,” Manuel said.
Galvis says he has had a blast with the parent club.
“I really like it,” he said. “I would love to play here.”
He said he is learning more each day about his new position.
“I am getting there,” he said. “I played shortstop all my life.”
He said the biggest difference in the positions is the double play.
“Usually when you play shortstop, the runner is coming to you on a double play,” He said. “It is usually different at second.”
Galvis says he has leaned on veterans to help him out.
“Our guys have helped me out a lot,” he said.
And along with leftfielder Juan Pierre, the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Galvis has brought an element of speed to the Phillies lineup.
“I don’t want to try to hit home runs,” he said. “My game is getting on base and moving runners.”
His teammates and Manuel have appreciated Galvis’ business-like attitude and his transition to second base has been one of the positive developments this spring.
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Galvis has been impressive. To think this was another guy that they were going to keep in the minors for another year.— AvoidSundanceVacations- I don't think Rollins is going to be 20 times better than Galvis over the next three years, so I don't understand why he was signed, but for the next two weeks I'm glad that he was. But I'll take a young, hungry, improving player who is a superior fielder over almost any thirty something SS any day.— jtj06
- I had hoped all winter long the Phils would hold tough and not sign Rollins, let alone to a contract of four years length and tens of millions of dollars in value. At the time it was done, it just rekindled the greatest concern many of us have about this management team, that young players need not apply. Galvis was destined to be just the latest in a string of guys forced to wait until their late 20's to play, or shipped out of the organization before that time.
With Chase's injury, Galvis is getting his chance early and so far, he looks like a player, albeit one who will and should bat 8th in the order for the foreseeable future. No problem with that, I'm sure he's thrilled to be anywhere in that lineup.
With 20/20 hindsight, those who want like my post or the two before me will point to the injuries to Howard and Utley as reason why veteran leadership was so necessary to keep on this team in the person of Rollins. Three problems with that: 1) Amaro has admitted he didn't realize Chase wouldn't be ready to play right from the start, 2) Rollins needs to lead with more than his promises, he needs to lead in the way he approaches each AB and, 3) was it really necessary to ink him through age 37 to do all this?
For those who will police me, this is not a bash; it is a stated concern that I have and an opinion about Rollins many of us have.— advantasux - I was in that same camp with you this past Winter, actually hoping the Phillies would spend that money on Aramis Ramirez or Grady Sizemore...The quality of Galvis' defensive abilities was a known factor, but I also liked the fact that he finally showed progression as a hitter as in the past year he's started to get bigger and stronger...He hit 8 homers in the first half at Reading (yank jobs),and when his promotion to LV came, he MORE than held his own...It was all timing however, cause Freddy never was able to show himself on the biggest stage, and it would have taken major cojones to go with a Valdez/Galvis combination to start the year...RAJ took the safer route...TBD. — bearsfriend
- The Police don't make music anymore (thank god), long live the Police.
I would agree with about 80% of this post. But I think the posts (@bears) and others that also say GAL-vees played himself INTO the lineup this spring have it about right too. The kid has been impressive. And that always gets the attention of admin and managers no matter what level of play.
Timing is everything. Injuries help (open up spots). And it doesn't matter a lick that RAJ admits anything. He'll be right some of the times, and wrong some of the times. It's a matter of opinion.
Prefer the Talking Heads over the Police.— 24sDad - Only one other player in the major leagues has more triples (4) in spring training games than Freddy who is tied with several others with three. Freddy is ready. Let's get the Freddy Show started!— Dull
- Freddy Galvis has put on one impressive spring, and I'm excited to see him play every day. Jimmy Rollins has been the heart of a very good defense -- and a clutch hitter in big games on offense -- for more than a decade. I think we should give them both some love.— Dave Clemens
- people kept saying all winter how galis couldn't hit! he's hitting 270ish now and did in LHV. he may not be a real good hitter, however he's been good in clutch situations from what i've seen this spring. he's led the team in rbi all spring hitting low in the order and had the game winning hit last night! if he could hit 270 out of the 8 hole this year that would be a huge plus! and his fielding is excellent and will get better with experience at his new position. i'm excited to have a 22 yr old kid like this on the team as we watch him develope into what i predict as a very good major league ball player.— Ryne Duren
- Spring stats don't really mean a whole lot if anything. Juding skill by RBI in spring is even worse than judging skill by RBI in the regular season.
- Wait until he hears the crowd chant VEEEEEEEEEEECis— Ron
- Is it possible that in future years Jimmy could switch to 3rd like ARod, with Freddy taking over at SS? This might extend Jimmy's stay in Philly even longer.— TMan
- Interesting, Jimmy to third, Freddy to shortstop, and Placido Palanco back to his natural position at second, alternating with Utley I suppose.
— Phiggles - look at all the idiots getting boners over spring training stats— AlexSp
- galvis' not existent bat will fail at the major league level and all the idiots clamoring for him to replace jimmy will hibernate even further— AlexSp
- Why Freddy had low slash lines thru the minors....he was always young for his league at every level, last year at Reading he was 21 and at the low end of age-relation for the Eastern League.— Romus
