Off-season League Updates: Rupp, Hernandez, Franco, Others Heat Up

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)… 

Catcher Cameron Rupp– Thus far in seven games, Rupp, who made his big league debut with the Phillies in September, is batting .300 with two doubles and four RBI.  Rupp has also been solid on defense, gunning down multiple runners in a game twice in AFL play.  The 25-year-old was the Phils’ 3rd round pick out of Texas in 2010.

RHP Kenny Giles– The 23-year-old, who regularly throws his fastball in the high 90’s, sports a 10.80 ERA through five outings with Peoria.  One disastrous outing (six ER without recording an out) takes away from how Giles has looked in his other appearances (five innings, no runs, two hits allowed, eight strike outs, two walks).  Giles, who missed some time during the 2013 regular season with two oblique strains, was the Phils’ 7th round pick in 2011 and posted a 6.31 ERA in 24 games with Clearwater this year.

OF Aaron Altherr– In three games, the 22-year-old is 3-for-11 (.273 avg) with two RBI and has been unsuccessful in one stolen base attempt.  Altherr was the Phillies’ 9th round draft selection in 2009.  He batted .275 with 12 homers, 69 RBI and 23 steals in 123 games for Class A Advanced Clearwater this year.

OF Cameron Perkins– In seven games, the 23-year-old is batting .238 with a double, a triple and an RBI.  Perkins was drafted out of Purdue in the 6th round in 2012.  Perkins was called upon late to fill the void left by outfielder Kelly Dugan, who was sent home from the AFL as he is dealing with turf toe.

RHP Kyle Simon– The 23-year-old has allowed one earned run in 5 1/3 innings (1.69 ERA) in four relief outings in the AFL.  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 six innings (7.50 ERA) over four 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– In five appearances for the Javelinas, the Phils’ 17th round draft choice from 2010 has allowed four earned runs in seven innings pitched (5.14 ERA) while striking out four and walking four.  In 48 games at three levels this year, the 25-year-old 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 .316 with two doubles, two home runs and seven RBI in nine games thus far 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.  In 117 games with Reading this year, Duran posted a .225 average with four homers and 33 RBI.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis– In six games the 23-year-old is 6-for-21 (.286 avg) with two doubles, a home run and two RBI for Zulia.  The switch-hitting Galvis missed some time in the early going with a bicep strain.

Outfielder Wilmer Oberto– The lefty hitting 20-year-old has no hits in two 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.

OF Steve Susdorf– Thus far in six games, the 27-year-old is 3-for-19 (.158 avg) with two RBI for Caracas. 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 15 games, the 28-year-old slugger is batting .319 with two doubles, two homers and 10 RBI for Aragua.  Murphy, the Phils’ 17th round pick in 2008, 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– In seven games for Cibao, the 21-year-old has a .370 average with two doubles, four RBI and two stolen bases.  The righty batting Franco slammed 31 homers and drove in 103 runs with just one steal in 134 games at two levels of the Phils’ system this year.

OF Leandro Castro– In eight games with the Estrellas, the 24-year-old is batting .300 with two doubles, five RBI and a steal.  In 117 games with Lehigh Valley this year, Castro sported a .256 average with eight home runs and 55 RBI.

RHP Hector Neris– In three outings for the Toros, the 24-year-old 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 two 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 saved and a 4.77 ERA.

Mexican Winter League…

LHP Manuel Chavez- The 19-year-old has a 1.93 ERA in eight relief appearances for Mexicali.  In 4 2/3 innings, Chavez has struck out five and walked only one.  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 batting .190 with a double, a homer and one RBI in seven games for Los Mochis.  Valle sported a .203 batting average with 12 homers and 41 RBI in 98 games with Reading this year.