Off-season League Notes: Bastardo Shines, Hernandez Leaves Team
Dominican Winter League…
LHP Antonio Bastardo– The 28-year-old has a 0-1 record with a 1.04 ERA in nine outings for the Gigantes. Through 8 2/3 innings, Bastardo has struck out 17 batters while walking two. In 48 big league games this year, before missing time due to a banned substance suspension, the reliever had a 3-2 record with two saves and a 2.32 ERA.
3B/1B Maikel Franco– The 21-year-old slugged his first homer of the Dominican League season this past week. Overall, in 32 games the righty batting Franco has tallied a .237 average with six doubles, a home run, 11 RBI and three steals. Franco had an excellent 2013, mashing 31 homers and driving in 103 runs in 134 games with Clearwater and Reading during the regular season.
Utility man Michael Martinez– The 31-year-old is hitting .200 with a double, a home run and two RBI in eight games with the Estrellas. Martinez was re-signed by the Phillies in October.
Catcher Tommy Joseph– The 22-year-old righty hitter has a .192 average with two doubles and two RBI through nine games for the Estrellas. Joseph missed considerable time with concussion related issues this year and batted .179 in 36 minor league games. Joseph was a 2nd draft pick by the Giants in 2009.
OF Leandro Castro– The 24-year-old sports a .237 average with five doubles and six RBI in 20 games for 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 3.52 ERA and a .208 batting average against through eight 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 1.35 ERA while striking out three and walking five in 6 2/3 innings pitched for the Toros. Neris posted a 6-4 record with a 4.55 ERA and a .241 batting average against in 46 games this year for Double-A Reading.
Venezuelan Winter League-
Second baseman Cesar Hernandez– The 23-year-old is likely done for the season with Margarita, as he requires some rest heading into big league spring training in 2014. Overall in 31 Venezuelan League games, Hernandez, who has also played center field, posted a .254 average with two home runs, 15 RBI and two steals. 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.
Shortstop Freddy Galvis– The 23-year-old recorded back-to-back three-hit games over the weekend. Galvis is batting .310 with nine doubles, one triple, two home runs, 17 RBI and four stolen bases in 33 games. The switch-hitting Galvis sported a .234 average with six home runs and 19 RBI in 70 big league games 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 an 8.10 ERA in four appearances for La Guaira. In 6 2/3 innings in the Venezuelan League, Gonzalez has struck out five batters and walked seven. 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 Mario Hollands– In three games (one start), the 25-year-old is sporting a 1.17 ERA with no decisions. Hollands has struck out six batters and walked two in 7 2/3 innings. Hollands, the Phils’ 10th round draft selection from 2010, went 7-3 with a 2.86 ERA in 27 combined games with Clearwater and Reading this year.
LHP Cesar Jimenez– The 29-year-old has tallied a 0-1 record and a 4.70 ERA in seven appearances for Lara. Jimenez has struck out eight and walked four in 7 2/3 innings. 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.
Infielder Andres Blanco– The 29-year-old is 1-for-7 in six games with Magallanes. Blanco, who played with the Triple-A Iron Pigs in 2012, is a .255 hitter in 235 big league games. The switch-hitting Blanco was re-signed by the Phillies this off-season.
Mexican Winter League…
Catcher Sebastian Valle– The righty batting 23-year-old is hitless in six of his last seven games. Overall in 29 games for Los Mochis, Valle is sporting a .244 average with seven doubles and four RBI. Valle posted a .203 batting average with 12 homers and 41 RBI in 98 games with Double-A Reading this year.
