(AP)
Going into the 2013 season, the Phillies knew what they had with Freddy Galvis. A guy who could play with anybody defensively, but had trouble handling the bat. His 2013 season further justified the Phillies’ beliefs.
There’s no doubt that Galvis is a gifted defender. He has a natural ability to handle the glove and watching him play defense is truly a pleasure. But as we know, defense isn’t helping in the batters box.
In 2012, Galvis hit .226 with 3 home runs and 24 RBIs and his numbers in 2013 were similar. Galvis finished with a .234 batting average, 6 home runs, and 19 RBIs. And while Galvis he was unable to help much offensively for most of the year, he did have a strong finish to the season, hitting .309 in September. He showed a flare for the dramatic and a little power by hitting two walk off home runs; one off of Braves’ pitcher Freddy Garcia and the other against Reds closer Aroldis Chapman.
If Galvis were able to find consistency at the plate, he would be a starter-quality player. Since we know that isn’t the case, Galvis remains a utility-man, albeit a a solid one. Galvis’ true value lies in his ability to play almost any defensive position. During the 2013 season, Galvis spent time at third base, shortstop, second base, and even played some games in left field, transition to the outfield well.
Grade: C – As far as utility guys go, you can’t get much better than Freddy Galvis. His defense is exceptional, and it showed again throughout the season. However, His inconsistency hitting the ball kept him from reaching his full potential, and made him a risky start for Charlie Manuel and Ryne Sandberg.
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