Galvis giving Phils point to ponder in offseason
PHILADELPHIA » As if Freddy Galvis’ rocketing rise in stature in the Phillies’ clubhouse needed any kind of confirmation, there was Galvis’ dynamic performance Sunday to give his agent yet another loaded talking point for the offseason.
Galvis’ third hit of the day was a bases-loaded single to right field in the bottom of the ninth, giving the Phillies their second walkoff win in two days, 2-1 over the Atlanta Braves.
The Phillies have won four straight games, and are 9-4 in their last 13 not-justluck games. Still mired 26 games below .500, no one in their midst is going to cast any delusional glances at the standings. But they are looking toward next year, and while the young talent they’ve been building over the past two years is starting to have a true impact on a daily basis, they’ve started to unite behind their unlikely, most tendered regular.
Freddy Galvis has gone this season from shortstop with a tenuous future to clubhouse leader to budding major league star. As he proved with a couple of flashy plays in the field that undoubtedly saved runs and helped Vince Velasquez turn in one of his best starts as a Phillie, the diminutive 27-year-old Galvis again showed why he is — or at least should be — a front-running candidate for a Gold Glove.
After the game, when that subject came up, he also showed why he has become the most respected presence in the clubhouse.
“It’s something you have to think about after the season, you know?” Galvis said of the Gold Glove talk. “My mindset, like I’ve said before, is I try to do the job and to work every day hard and if I get it, I get it. I prefer to have in my mind something to help the team to win more games.”
Undeniably, a Phillies club (38-64) that less than a month ago appeared directionless is starting to do just that. The energy infused by call-up outfielder Nick Williams certainly played a part in this small showing of success, as did Odubel Herrera finally playing like he should and Aaron Altherr power-hitting lineup.
But Galvis, the guy who is being mentioned in casual club conversation as one of the top fielders in Phillies history, has played a role in that revival both at shortstop and at the plate.
At the end of May his offensive numbers seemed to be following their usual mediocre pattern. But since June 2, Galvis’ batting average has risen 34 points to .257, with an OPS of .732.
Combine that with the becoming a rock in the increasing opinion that he’s turned into the National League’s finest defensive shortstop and it should make for interesting contract talks about Galvis in the offseason.
Underscoring all that, of course, is the trek followed by former top Phillies prospect and supposed shortstop of the future J.P. Crawford, whose early season struggles seem to be behind him. To many, Galvis was thought of as a stopgap regular while Crawford developed in the minors. Even Galvis’ contract in the offseason - he more than doubled his salary to $4.35 million, but only received a one-year commitment to avoid arbitration seemed to show that.
But with Crawford perhaps poised for major league duty next season, Galvis, who can become a free agent after next season, seems to have placed himself in position to negotiate a long-term deal from the Phillies this winter.
Not that he would entertain the thought of publicly addressing it.
Asked Sunday about his immediate future, Galvis said, “I’m just playing baseball. We’ll see what happens.”
Considering the way Galvis has been making good things happen this season, he has built a team of supporters for any contract cause that might come his way.
“Freddy is a Gold Glover in my eyes right now,” Velasquez said after he pitched seven scoreless innings Sunday, scattering six hits but not being gifted with a win. “He’s making plays with ease and doing them on a regular basis.”
“I was disappointed he didn’t win the Gold Glove last year,” manager Pete Mackanin added. “I thought he deserved it. I still think he’s a Gold Glove-caliber shortstop. Not a whole lot else I can say.”
For Galvis, not saying anything about it will do just fine. As long as his team continues to win, he’ll let his play do the talking.
In the first inning, Galvis somehow fielded a grounder in the hole and leaped into the air, but faked a throw to first as the Braves’ Ender Inciarte started tearing around third.
Galvis promptly twisted his body and made an offbalance throw to catcher Andrew Knapp that easily nailed Inciarte for a runsaving final out of the inning.
Then in the fifth inning, Galvis went sprawling behind second base to track down a would-be hit by Atlanta’s Sean Rodriguez that would have put two runners on with no outs. Instead, Galvis turned it into a double play.
“Right now, it’s just about doing the job for my pitcher,” Galvis said. “When I play the game, I relax and see the plays I’m going to make.”