Off-season league updates: Hernandez heats up

Once again, we’re back with another weekly rundown of how Phillies players are performing in fall and winter leagues around the globe. Read ahead for all the latest stats and updates.

Venezuelan Winter League-

After going 17-for-37 (.459 avg) in his last nine games, infielder Cesar Hernandez is batting .356 with five doubles, 13 RBI and three stolen bases for Lara. In 66 games with the Phillies this year, the 24-year-old switch-hitter batted .237 with a homer, four RBI and a stolen base.

Catcher Gabriel Lino is batting .265 with five doubles, four RBI in 19 games for Lara. The 21-year-old, who was acquired from Baltimore in the 2012 Jim Thome trade, played in 90 combined games with Class A Lakewood and Class A Advanced Clearwater this year, posting a combined .215 average with five home runs and 34 RBI.

In 13 appearances (six starts) with Lara, lefty hurler Cesar Jimenez has a 2-4 record with a 3.48 ERA while striking out 29 and walking eight in 31 innings of work. The 30-year-old posted a 1.69 ERA in 16 big league games with the Phillies this year.

After a 0-for-4 day on Sunday, shortstop Freddy Galvis is batting .246 with seven doubles, a triple, a homer and nine RBI. In 43 big league contests this year, the 25-year-old switch-hitter batted .176 with four home runs and 12 RBI.

Elvis Araujo sports a 4-0 record with a 0.61 ERA in 12 relief outings for Zulia. The 23-year-old left-hander, who was signed as a free agent this off-season, posted a 2-1 record with 11 saves, a 3.42 ERA and a 9.00 K/9 mark in 43 combined games with Class A Advanced Carolina and Double-A Akron this year.

Righty pitcher Ethan Martin has a 0-1 record with a 4.50 ERA in three outings with five strike outs and four walks over six innings for La Guaira. The 25-year-old was acquired from the Dodgers in the 2012 Shane Victorino trade. Martin appeared in two games with the Phillies this year, allowing two earned runs in four innings.

Also for La Guaira, righty Mike Nesseth has allowed seven earned runs in two innings. The 26-year-old posted a 2-7 record with a save and a 5.60 ERA in 42 combined outings at Double- Reading and Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year. The six-foot-five 210-pound Nesseth was the Phils’ 17th round pick in 2010.

Infielder Andres Blanco is batting .308 with five doubles, a triple, 10 RBI and a stolen base in 20 games for Magallanes. The 30-year-old batted .277 with a homer and three RBI in 25 games with the big league club in 2014.

With Aragua, righty Manny Martinez has thrown six scoreless relief appearances. Combined with Class A short-season Williamsport and Class A Lakewood this year, the 22-year-old posted a 1-4 record with a 5.01 ERA while striking out 34 and walking 17 in 32 1/3 innings over 26 contests.

Corner infielder/backstop Willians Astudillo is 1-for-4 with a homer and three RBI in one game for Anzoategui after making his season debut this past week. The 23-year-old was the catalyst for the Class A Lakewood team this year, where he finished second in the South Atlantic League with a .333 average.

Dominican Winter League-

Third baseman Maikel Franco is batting .269 with five doubles, seven home runs and 26 RBI through 30 games with the Gigantes. This year in 133 contests with Triple-A Lehigh Valley, the righty hitting Franco posted a .257 batting average with 16 home runs and 78 RBI, then made his major league debut in September and tallied a .179 average with two doubles and five RBI in 16 games.

Right-handed reliever Hector Neris extended his scoreless appearance streak to open the DR season to 15 this weekend. In 12 innings for the Toros, Neris has struck out seven and walked four. The 25-year-old appeared in one game with the Phils this year, earning a win in his big league debut and posted a 3.61 ERA in 48 minor league contests this year.

With the Aguilas, righty pitcher Nefi Ogando has tossed two scoreless appearances. In 2 2/3 innings, Ogando has a strike out and has not allowed a walk. Earlier this off-season in the Arizona Fall League, the 25-year-old sported a 1-0 record with three saves and a 3.07 ERA while striking out 15 and walking four in 14 2/3 innings.

Right-hander Luis Garcia has allowed an unearned run in two innings of work for the Estrellas. In 13 big league games this year, the 27-year-old posted a 6.43 ERA while striking out 12 and walking 13 in 14 innings.

Australian Baseball League-

Outfielder Dylan Cozens has a .239 average with five doubles, four homers and eight RBI with Melbourne. This year, with Class A Lakewood, the 20-year-old sported a .248 average with 16 home runs and 62 RBI in 132 games. The six-foot-six 235-pounder was the Phillies’ 2nd round draft selection in 2012.

Catcher Chace Numata is batting .250 with five doubles and seven RBI in 19 games, also with Melbourne. Numata missed much of the 2014 season after undergoing surgery to repair a broken hamate bone prior to the season. The 22-year-old was the Phillies’ 14th round draft pick in 2010.

After going hitless in his most recent six games, outfielder Brian Pointer has a .169 average with three doubles, two triples, a homer and five RBI for Perth. In 123 games for Class A Advanced Clearwater this year, Pointer posted a .246 average with 15 homers, 53 RBI and 16 steals. The 22-year-old lefty batter was the Phils’ 28th round pick in 2010.

Third baseman Mitch Walding is batting .226 with a home run and 17 RBI in 16 games with Canberra. Walding sported a .237 average with seven home runs and 55 RBI in 108 games for Class A Lakewood this year. The 22-year-old was the Phillies’ 5th round draft choice in 2011.

Fans can vote for Numata and Pointer to be the final entrant on the World team for the ABL’s upcoming All-Star Game by visiting this link.

Mexican Winter League-

Victor Arano has a 5.79 ERA with 11 strike outs and three walks issued in 14 innings for Obregon. The 19-year-old right-hander was acquired as the player to be named later in the Roberto Hernandez to the Dodgers trade this year. In 22 games with Class A Great Lakes this year, Arano tallied a 4-7 record with three saves and a 4.08 ERA and an 8.69 K/9 mark.

Puerto Rico/Roberto Clemente League-

Righty pitcher Yacksel Rios has a 0-1 record after allowing two earned runs in three innings of work for Santurce. The 21-year-old posted a 6-2 record with one save and a 3.69 ERA in 33 games (13 starts) for Lakewood this year. Rios was the Phillies’ 12th round draft pick in 2011.

In 16 games for Mayaguez, Jesmuel Valentin is batting .333 with two doubles and four RBI. The 20-year-old infielder posted a .273/.341/.412 slash line in 120 minor league games this year.

Catcher Rene Garcia has a .265 average with a home run and six RBI in 10 games with Carolina. The 24-year-old righty hitter was signed by the Phillies recently as a minor league free agent.