Weekly Off-season League Updates: Fall, Dominican, Venezuelan and Mexican League Notes

The premiere edition of our 2013 off-season league updates is here.  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)…

RHP Mike Nesseth– The Phils’ 17th round draft choice from 2010 has allowed four earned runs in four innings while striking out two and walking one thus far with Peoria.  Nesseth sported a 1-5 record with a 2.50 ERA and nine saves in 48 regular season games at three levels during the regular season this year. To hear Nesseth talking about the Arizona Fall League, check out my exclusive interview with him by clicking HERE.

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 two games, the 23-year-old has gone 2-for-6 (.333 avg) with an RBI.  Perkins, a Purdue product, was the Phils’ 6th round pick 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.  Dugan, 23, will be in a walking boot for two weeks while he allows the ailment to heal.

Catcher Cameron Rupp– Thus far in five games, Rupp, who made his big league debut with the Phillies in September, is 7-for-20 (.350 avg) with a double and two RBI.  Rupp has also been solid on defense, gunning down two runners in a single game last week.  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, had a pair of solid outings to open the AFL season, but struggled on Saturday, walking three batters and allowing six earned runs without recording an out.  Giles, who missed considerable 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.

RHP Kyle Simon– The 23-year-old has allowed one earned run in 4 1/3 innings (2.08 ERA) in three 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 three earned runs in 3 1/3 innings in three appearances.  Wright, who was the Phils’ 8th round draft pick out of the University of Mississippi in 2011 tallied a 6-5 record and a 5.92 ERA in 27 games with Double-A Reading this year.

Venezuelan Winter League…

Shortstop Freddy Galvis– The 23-year-old is 1-for-3 with a double and an RBI in two games with Zulia.  Galvis left Saturday’s game as a precaution as a local media report had him dealing with a bicep issue.

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 Gulf Coast League this year.

RHP Severino Gonzalez– The 21-year-old, who was honored as the Phils’ Paul Owens Award winner this year, allowed two earned runs in two innings in his only start thus far for La Guaira.  In the regular season, Gonzalez had a 7-5 record with a 2.00 ERA and a 10.33 K/9 mark in 25 games at three levels.

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– The 28-year-old slugger is batting .351 with two doubles, two home runs and eight RBI in 10 games for Aragua.  Murphy was a Double-A Eastern League All-Star with Reading in 2013.

Catcher Gabriel Lino– The 20-year-old is hitless in one at bat in two games played for Lara.  Lino was the other player, along with Simon, that was acquired from Baltimore for Jim Thome.

Infielder Cesar Hernandez–  The 23-year-old switch hitter is 3-for-16 (.188 avg) thus far in four games for Margarita.  Hernandez batted .289 in 34 games with the Phillies and was honored as a Triple-A All-Star this 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 with Reading this year, Duran posted a .225 average with four homers and 33 RBI.

RHP Justin Friend– The 27-year-old has allowed three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings while earning a win in three outings for La Guaira.  Friend posted a 5-4 record with a 3.79 ERA in 46 games with Triple-A Lehigh Valley this year.

Dominican Winter League…

3B Maikel Franco– The 21-year-old was 4-for-12 (.333 avg) with Cibao in the first three games of the season over the weekend.  Franco slammed 31 homers and drove in 103 runs in 134 games at two levels of the Phils’ system this year.

OF Leandro Castro– The 24-year-old righty hitter went 3-for-7 (.429 avg) with a double and two RBI through two games with the Estrellas.  In 117 games with Lehigh Valley this year, Castro sported a .256 average with eight home runs and 55 RBI.

RHP Hector Neris– In his lone outing for the Toros, Neris struck out one and allowed no hits, walks or runs in 1 2/3 innings.  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.

Mexican Winter League…

LHP Manuel Chavez- The 19-year-old has not allowed a run in two innings of work for Mexicali.  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 2-for-7 (.286 avg) with a homer and an RBI in two games for Los Mochis.  Valle sported a .203 batting average with 12 homers and 41 RBI in 98 games with Reading this year.