Around the System–Middle Infield

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A look at the middle infield with the good news coming in Reading.  Up next are the Outfielders, which should come out next Thursday.

Lehigh Valley

Kevin Frandsen, 29, Re-signed as a free agent in 2012; .238/.292/.286 in 105 AB’s; 0HR 2RBI; 1 SB; .256 vs. LH, .227 vs. RH, .227 with RISP; 4%bb/7%k rates; 20 games at 2B with 2 errors (.978); 3 games at 3B with 1 error; 3 games at 1B without an error, 2 games at SS without an error. Frandsen has struggled this year, not looking nearly as good as he did last year thus far.

Mike Fontenot, 31, Signed as a free agent in 2012; .319/.373/.447 in 47 AB’s; 0HR and 6 RBI; 0SB; .333 vs. LHP, .308 vs. RHP, .364 with RISP.  7 games at 2B without an error; 5 games at 3B without an error; 1 game at SS without an error. Fontenot has played well since his late APril signing but with less than 50 AB’s, still way too early to tell if he can help the big club.

Andres Blanco, 28, Signed as a free agent in 2012; .231/.300/.361 in 108 AB’s; 3 HR 11 RBI; 3 SB; .235 vs. LHP, .230 vs. RHP; .200 with RISP; 9%bb/17%k rates.  31 games at SS with 5 errors (.961) Blanco knows how to play the game but has struggled uncharacteristically with the glove at times. Fits in as a quad A player.

Reading

Cesar Hernandez, 21, Signed as a free agent in 2006:.308/.341/.436 in 117 AB’s; 0HR 17 RBI; 2/6SB; 5%bb/14%k rates;.333 vs. LHP, .293 vs. RHP; .303 with RISP; .368 in May. 29 games at 2B with 3 errors (.978); Hernandez has acclimated very well to AA ball after being double jumped. A member of the 40 man roster, there are high expectations.

Troy Hanzawa, 26, Phils 16th round pick in 2008; .308/.350/.374 in 91 AB’s; 0HR 13 RBI; 2 SB; 5%bb/10% k rates; .265 vs. LHP, .333 vs. RHP, .429 with RISP, .346 in May.27 games at SS with 3 errors (.971). I had admittedly written Hanzawa off, but at age 26, he is showing a little bit this year.  I can’t imagine he is part of the Phillies future but his improvement is notable.

Miguel Abreu, 27, Signed as a free agent in 2012; .382/.392/.527 in 55 AB’s; 1 HR 5RBI; 2/4 SB; .455 vs. LH, .329 vs.RH; .444 with RISP; 5%bb/4%k rates. 6 games at SS with 2 errors (.941), 1 game at 2B without an error; 4 games at SS with 2 errors. Excellent job backing up the middle infield.

Clearwater

Albert Cartwright, 24, Acquired from the Astros in 2011; .200/.270/.257 in 105 AB’s; 0HR 5RBI; 2/5 SB; 6%bb/24% k rates; .163 vs. LH, .232 vs. RH, .130 with RISP, .103 in May,25 games at 2B with 6 errors (.942). Pretty brutal.

Carlos Alonso, 24, Phils 32nd round pick in 2010; .339/.423/.424 in 59 AB’s; 1 HR 7 RBI; 11% bb/8% rates; .314 vs. LH, .357 vs. RH, .308 with RISP.  Has played 12 games between 2B and SS without an error. The low draft pick is making some people turn their heads early on this season and his playing time has begun to pick up a bit.

Edgar Duran, 21, Signed as a free agent in 2007; .271/.311/.365 in 96 AB’s; 0HR 8RBI; 3 SB; 5%bb/15%k rates. .179 vs. LH, .333 vs. RH, .250 with RISP; .303 in May.28 games at SS with 4 errors (.961);  Duran has been solid early on this season, although his RH/LH splits need work.

Lakewood

Gustavo Gonzalez, 21, Signed as a free agent in 2010; .198/.250/.198 in 86 AB’s; 0HR 5 RBI; 3SB; 5%bb/22% k rates; .227 vs.RH, .188 vs. LH, .190 with RISP; .158 in May; 18 games at 2B with 3 errors (.963); 8 games at 3B with 2 errors (.938). Troubles at the plate and struggling to make contact.

Carlos Perdomo, 22, Signed as a free agent in 2007; .231/.298/.327 in 52 AB’s; 1HR 4 RBI; 4 SB; .071 vs. LH, .289 vs. RH, .188 with RISP. 15 games at 2B with 2 errors (.967).  Has been ok in limited playing time. Has shown some good speed.

Stephen Malcolm, 22, Phils 8th round pick in 2010 draft. No stats yet.

21 thoughts on “Around the System–Middle Infield”

  2. Seeing these names makes me wish all the more that last year’s draft class start doing well in the GCL, etc.

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  3. Yes, thanks for keeping things going. I noted in your acceptance statement a word about Darrin Ruff and I am having difficulty wondering why he has not been moved up? With Fontenot and Luna, we now have more weak bats on the big club and never a consideration given to Ruff or Overbeck. They are both about 25, so although that’s old for a normal MLB team’s prospects, still too young for the Phils, I guess.

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    1. I’m not sure why this has anything to do with middle infielders, but the reason that Overbeck has not been called up is that, at least at this point, there is no reason to believe that he would be better than the men from whom he would take at bats. The reason Ruf has not been called up is that he is in AA and there’s no guarantee he can hit AAA pitching, let alone major league pitching. First things first – let’s see if Ruf can clobber the guys at AAA – he shouldn’t have to wait long. His promotion to AAA should come within a month or so, perhaps sooner.

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  4. You could have included Greene with hs awful numbers. Now we all have to hope that he hits in WPort. Cesar is clearly the star on this list. Let’s hope he can keep it going because we know we might need a 2b in 2014 if not sooner. Cesar projects as a solid top of the order guy if he can keep hitting. Alonso may have at least opened some eyes, we’ll see but he’s always hit. I sort of feel like we could include Galvis on this list because he’ll be back at AAA soon enough to continue his development, although he’s looked better the last two games.

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    1. Murray, are you actually worried about Greene? I’m not. The kid won’t turn 20 until December, but still managed to draw 13 walks in 23 Class A games with 7 XBHs. He hit .147, but his on-base percentage was almost a hundred points higher. A kid that young with plate discipline and a bit of in-game power has a great chance. I bet his return to Lakewood will come before the end of this season.

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      1. I’m not sure that what he has shown is plate discipline. With his 40%+ strikeout rate, he pretty much lived up to some of his pre-draft reports, that says he thinks he can hit every pitch thrown near the plate.
        Even though he has a good amount of walks, his horrible K rate tells me the pitchers aren’t throwing him any strikes, and he is swinging more often than taking.

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        1. That’s fair. There’s no question he’s been over-matched, but my point was that most 19 year olds won’t take the pitches Greene has been. Look at a guy like Anthony Hewitt; if I were a pitcher, I wouldn’t throw him a strike, either, and yet his walk rate remains abysmal. Strikeouts or not, the walks are a positive to take from Greene’s first shot at A-ball IMO.

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      2. Sometimes walks can be misleading. Half of his walks came over a recent 3 or 4 game stretch. Could be he was afraid to swing after struggling and striking out a lot and getting criticism to his approach and got the walks as a result.

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  5. Just watching CSN Sportsnet and they said Mike Fontenot is coming to Phils Saturday and they placed Mike Martinez on 60 day DL. They still would have to make a move on 25 man roster. I’m assuming Pete Orr goes down even though he has hit well this year.

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      1. Now Lehigh Valley needs an infielder as they only have three (while they have 3 active catchers). I’m guessing Miguel Abreau might be an option.

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  6. Thanx for taking over the site and thanx for the write up on middle infielders

    With Hernandez being double bumped most likely he’ll be at AA this year and start next then move to Lehigh if he continues to improve some time next season. Not to push it but maybe replace who ever is at 2B for 2013/2014.

    I second the notion to get last years picks rolling successfully, Phila needs it!

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  7. This is slightly off topic, but since we are talking about middle infielders, I’d like to mention something about Freddy Galvis, which is worth noting. The other night, Freddy was just inches from hitting an opposite field home run in the power alley at CBP. It is difficult overemphasize the significance of that moment. What that tells me is that Freddy, at the very least, has the ability to become a middle infielder with above-average power. If he can continue to get stronger, work on his contact abilities and approach at the plate, there exists the real possibility that Galvis could develop into an above-average regular and perhaps even a borderline star given that he is going to be something like a plus 2-3 WAR fielder. His development as an offensive player could take many years, but there’s an awful lot to like with Freddy.

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    1. I agree. Perhaps I am being overly optimistic but I believe there is power there to be brought to the surface. He DOES need to play regularly at SS so I suspect he will go to LV since Fotenent has been called up. Freddy has excellent control of an middle infield role. I also believe that there is a good OBA lurking in him.

      Watching his swing I do NOT see a guy who fans the air at bat. He does mostly make contact, though not yet solidly yet. That time at LV plus more strength training…

      Ultimately a BA of .270 and 15 dingers.

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      1. I see a 2014 infield, from left to right, of Rollins, Galvis, C Hernandez, and Howard.

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      2. Lest we forget…he, along with Juan Pierre, are probably the best bunters in the entire Phillies organization. Eight bunt hits last year is not too shabby.Corner infielder’s concern factor is elevated.

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  8. I’ve been wondering what happened to Chin-Lung Hu, who The Phillies signed at the end of March. I just learned that his minor league deal was voided after he failed his physical. He is currently playing for the Southern Maryland Blue Crabs in an Independent league, the Atlantic League (Liberty).

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  9. What exactly is the projection for Cesar Hernandez? Is he purely a top of the lineup speed guy? Does anyone see him developing power as he ages/fills out? Ten doubles in 127 AB is quite nice and uncharacteristic of his history. Is this a sign of things to come or a small sample-size aberation?

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