Off-season League Updates: Murphy Released by VZ Club, AFL Wraps Up

Throughout the autumn and winter months, we’ll have a weekly rundowns of how Phillies players are performing in the various leagues around the globe.  Read ahead for he latest on many familiar names, some top prospects and plenty more including notes on the Arizona Fall League which wrapped up its schedule last week.

Venezuelan Winter League- 

In news that I first mentioned on Twitter over the weekend, minor league slugger Jim Murphy was released by the Aragua Tigres last Thursday.  Through 20 games, the first baseman batted .274 with three doubles, two homers and 10 RBI.  The release came as a surprise to the 28-year-old, who was planning to play through the full season, into late December, but will now be home in time for Thanksgiving Day.   Murphy remains signed with the Phillies.

Second baseman Cesar Hernandez– The 23-year-old switch hitter has gone 5-for-32 (.156 avg) in his last eight games.  Overall in 26 games for Margarita, Hernandez, who has also been playing center field, has posted a .242 average with two home runs and 13 RBI.  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, who is 3-for-9 (.333 avg) with a triple and two RBI in three games, has been rehabbing an undisclosed injury. Duran hasn’t played in a game since October 12th.  In 117 games with Reading this year, Duran posted a .225 average with four homers and 33 RBI.

Shortstop Freddy Galvis– The 23-year-old is batting .359 in his last 10 games for Zulia.  Galvis has posted a .305 average with seven doubles, one triple, two homers and 10 RBI in 21 overall games.    Galvis sported a .234 average with six home runs and 19 RBI in 70 big league games this year.

Outfielder Wilmer Oberto– The lefty hitting 20-year-old has no hits in four at bats through four games 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 posted a 0-1 record along with a 9.00 ERA in three appearances for La Guaira.  In six innings in the Venezuelan League, Gonzalez has struck out three batters and walked five.  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 6.23 ERA in four appearances for Lara. 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.

Catcher Gabriel Lino– The 20-year-old is hitless in two at bats in three games played for Lara.  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.

Arizona Fall League (seven Phils prospects played together on the Peoria Javelinas)…

RHP Kenny Giles– The Phils’ 7th round pick from 2011 had a solid AFL season, allowing runs in just one of his ten outings.  Aside from his disastrous appearance in which he allowed six earned runs without retiring a batter on October 19th, the righty threw 10 1/3 scoreless frames while striking out 16 and walking five.  Giles posted a 6.31 ERA in 24 games with Class A Advanced Clearwater this year.

Catcher Cameron Rupp– In 14 games, Rupp batted .278 with four doubles, a triple, a homer and six RBI.  The 25-year-old made his big league debut with the Phils in 2013, sporting a .308 average in four games.  Rupp, who batted .258 in 94 minor league games this year at the Double-A and Triple-A levels, was the Phils’ 3rd round draft pick in 2010.

RHP Mike Nesseth– The 25-year-old has a 0-2 record along with a 9.20 ERA while striking out nine and walking eight in 14 2/3 innings for Peoria.  In 48 games at three levels of the minors this year, Nesseth tallied a 1-5 record along with nine saves and a 2.50 ERA.

OF Aaron Altherr– The 22-year-old righty hitter posted a .200 average with three doubles, three RBI and two steals in 12 games.  Altherr was the Phillies’ 9th round draft selection in 2009.  The six-foot-five 195-pounder batted .275 with 12 homers, 69 RBI and 23 steals in 123 games for Class A Advanced Clearwater in 2013.

OF Cameron Perkins– The 23-year-old sported a .216 batting average with four doubles, two triples and three RBI in 18 games.  Perkins was the Phils’ 6th round pick in 2012 out of Purdue.  In 103 games with Clearwater this year, the righty batting youngster posted a .295 average with six home runs and 53 RBI.

RHP Kyle Simon– The 23-year-old had one save and a 3.14 ERA in nine games in the AFL.  In 14 1/3 innings, Simon struck out 11 batters and walked six.  Simon 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 posted a 5.91 ERA in 10 appearances.  In 10 2/3 innings Wright struck out 11 batters and walked six.  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.

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 5-for-8 in his last three games for Los Mochis to boost his Mexican League season average to .239.  Overall in 19 games Valle has a home run and one 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 took the loss on Sunday for the Gigantes, allowing two earned runs in the 10th inning against the Aguilas.  Bastardo had previously notched four scoreless appearances and now sports a 1.93 ERA.  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 22 games, Franco has a .300 average with six doubles and eight RBI.  The righty batting Franco had a bust-out 2013, mashing 31 homers and droving in 103 runs in 134 games with Clearwater and Reading this year.

Catcher Tommy Joseph– The 22-year-old righty hitter has a .231 average with a doubles and an RBI in five games with the Estrellas.  Joseph, who was acquired from San Francisco in the Hunter Pence trade last year, missed considerable time with concussion related issues this year and batted .179 in 36 minor league games.

OF Leandro Castro– The 24-year-old is 0-for-9 in six games this month.  Castro is batting .245 with four doubles and six RBI in 17 games with 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 2.45 ERA through four 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 1.50 ERA while striking out three and walking four in six innings pitched for the Toros.  Neris had a 6-4 record with a 4.55 ERA and a .241 batting average against in 46 games this year for Reading.