Phillies Infielders Will Try To Find Consistency, Cement Future
The Phillies were expected to move one of Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis, but as April approaches both will be on the starting roster. Who can find consistency?
The unclear futures of the Philadelphia Phillies’ middle infielders comes for many reasons. The first being the promise of prospects like J.P. Crawford, and the other being that Cesar Hernandez and Freddy Galvis have yet to prove they can consistently produce season to season. With Crawford closing in on an MLB stay, one of the infielders must cement their place with this team for the future.
Freddy Galvis is coming off a career season, where he showed unexpected power and pop at the plate. He hit 20 home runs, tying his total through his first four seasons. The monikered defensive wizard seemed to add power to his game last offseason, making him a valuable piece to have. His defensive stayed consistent as always, but the big question is whether or not Galvis can continue his power surge through this season.
Galvis is missing this year’s World Baseball Classic due to a groin injury that is seemingly affecting him through this season’s spring training. Galvis has gone just 2-for-13 thus far, and is struggling early to regain any glory from last season.
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Cesar Hernandez, Galvis’ infield “counterpart”, is also trying to play off of a hot 2016 season. Hernandez hit .294 in 547 at-bats, and is seeming to improve at the plate with more opportunity. He posted a .981 fielding percentage at second base, and proved to be a solid option alongside Galvis in the top of the lineup.
This spring has also been rough on Hernandez. He has hit just 2-for-11 to start the spring.
One would question if the peak of their trade value came this winter, but nonetheless the Phillies are moving forward with both players. They both are capable of playing either infield position, making themselves adaptable to when Crawford makes his long awaited debut.
The two must also worry about hot-hitting prospect Scott Kingery. The double-play partners will now be taking a more competitive approach this season, to end up outlasting each other in a Phillies uniform. The two have unclear futures, as their positions and inconsistencies put them at the forefront of debate. Last season was the first we’ve seen domination at the plate from Freddy Galvis, while Hernandez improved on a decent 2015 season.
What the Phillies do with either infielder will come down to their play in 2017, and with both arbitration eligible after this season, Matt Klentak has decisions to make.