Infielder Freddy Galvis announced his retirement today in an Instagram post. His decision to hang up his cleats marks the end of a 19-year career in professional baseball.
The Phillies signed a teenage Galvis as an international free agent in 2006. He worked his way up the minor league ladder over the next several years, proving himself to be an elite defensive prospect and a capable contact hitter, even if a lack of power and plate discipline looked like it would always hold him back from being anything more than serviceable at the plate. Indeed, that’s precisely the type of major leaguer he became.
Galvis spent the first six years of his MLB tenure in Philadelphia from 2012-17 before bouncing around between the Padres, Blue Jays, Reds, and Orioles from 2018-21 and finally making his way back to the Phillies. Over 10 seasons, he played in 1,102 games and hit well enough to let his glove do most of the talking. He finished with just under 1,000 hits, including 171 doubles, 27 triples, and 109 home runs, good for a .246 batting average, a .680 OPS, and an 80 wRC+. A talented and versatile defender, he appeared in 883 games at shortstop, 144 at second base, 46 at third base, 12 in the outfield, and even one at first base. He compiled 8 Defensive Runs Saved (DRS), a 24 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR), and 25 Outs Above Average (OAA) – and keep in mind that OAA wasn’t tracked until his fifth big league campaign. While Galvis never won a Gold Glove, he was named a finalist in three consecutive years from 2016-18. So, despite middling offensive numbers, he nonetheless produced 10.8 FanGraphs WAR and 9.3 Baseball Reference WAR, an average of about 1.5 WAR per 162 games.
Following the 2021 season, Galvis, then 32, signed a two-year contract with the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks in Japan. Unfortunately, he struggled badly in NPB and ended up spending more time with the Hawks’ farm team than the major league club. He hit well below .200 each year with an OPS under .600. Once his contract with the Hawks expired, Galvis spent 2024 with the Tecolotes de los Dos Laredos of the Mexican League. Most recently, he suited up for Aguilas del Zulia in the Venezuelan Winter League during the 2024-25 offseason. After a career that took him to several countries, it was perhaps only fitting that Galvis returned to his home country of Venezuela for his final professional games.
MLB Trade Rumors congratulates Galvis on all of his baseball accomplishments and wishes him the best in whatever he chooses to do next.
Happy retirement Freddy. You deserved at least one GG at some point.
He last played in 2021!
Shall I announce that I am giving up my courtship of Kate Upton?
You can but I’m not giving up.
You might be a Top 100 Commenter, but you sure aren’t a Top 100 Reader, as the article clearly states that he has been playing professional baseball up through to this very year.
Kapler
Maybe the high saturated fat content of your coconut oil is damaging your brain cells if you could not figure out that I meant that Galvis last played in MLB in 2021.
I’m sure it doesn’t matter either way!
Unfortunately, it seems there is an unwritten requirement for winning a GG that you have to hit at a certain level. It’s like glove first guys get dismissed as not real regulars.
Smart player. Would not be surprised to see him get into coaching.
Freddy didn’t hit for a lot of power but he had an uncanny ability to turn on a lot of closers late in the game and he definitely deserved a GG for his slick fielding.
annual 2-3 WAR player from 2017-2019. A pair of 20 HR seasons and a plus plus defender at a premium position most of the way. a sneaky underrated career.
Congrats on retirement, Freddy and good luck with the next chapter.
Freddy was a good Phillie, especially when you consider Jimmy Rollins was no easy act to follow.
Gonna be honest I thought he retired years ago!
I remember he played for the Jays in 2019 had the best year of hi career with the Jays.
I like the trade and his time in SD. I’m not saying he was Ernie Banks out there with the bat but he met a need of the team at the time and fit in well.
Agreed
Completely forgot about him after he left for Japan. Surprised no team gave him a minor league deal after his time in the NPB was over.
Enjoy retirement
You mean the guy that hasn’t played in the MLB since 2021 is going to retire?? OMFG!!!!!!!!!!
When you play 1 inning of professional ball you can talk sh. T
Until then stay in the basement.
And I stopped drinking this afternoon