Phillies infielder Freddy Galvis has come back red hot as he rejoins organized baseball. Four games into the Venezuelan winter baseball season and the 22 year-old Galvis is batting .444 (8-for-18) with two home runs and a double.
Galvis has not played in an organized game since June 6 due to a fractured back and a 50-game performance-enhancement drug suspension which he served while on the DL. Right now, Galvis is playing shortstop for Aguilas del Zulia in the winter league.
Galvis, who is a front runner for the job at third base next season, split most of his time up in the bigs this season at second base and shortstop. In 58 games, Galvis batted .266 (43-for-190) with three home runs and 24 RBI. Despite his mediocre bat, Galvis has proved that he has the skills to win numerous Gold Glove Awards in the future.
Phillies outfielder Darin Ruf, who finished the 2012 season with a total of 41 home runs (38 in AA-Reading/3 in MLB) and 114 RBI (104 in AA-Reading/10 in MLB), has not started the winter league like he has wished. After DH-ing twice and playing first base once, Darin Ruf is batting .083 (1-for-12) with four strikeouts. His only hit has been a double.
Playing for Tiburones de La Guaira, Ruf has started three of the first four games and has batted cleanup in each start. Jorge Velandia, who is the manager of Tibournes, is also the Phillies' assistant minor-league field coordinator.
"He's going to be playing for Jorge Velandia, so he will be out in left field every day," Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. said in late September. "It should be a good experience for him."
It's too early in the season to tell, but there are 59 more games to play in the winter league. Darin Ruf has more than enough time to get some work in to gear up for next year.
Phillies Player's Winter Ball Stats:
- Tyson Gillies – OF: 7 for 15, 4 R, 1 2B, 1 3B
- Cesar Hernandez – 2B: 3 for 13, 4 R, 4 SB
- Sebastian Valle – C: 2 for 6, 2 R, 1 HR
H/T to Philly.com's Matt Gelb.
Follow Erik on Twitter @ErikSeyboldPHI.
