Former Phillies Alfaro, Galvis, Santana Thriving with New Clubs

By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor

Sometimes a change of scenery is all you need, especially for three former Philadelphia Phillies players so far this season — catcher Jorge Alfaro, shortstop Freddy Galvis and first baseman Carlos Santana.

Jorge Alfaro, Miami Marlins

• 2018, First 8 Games (PHI): 28 PA, 24 AB, 2 R, 4 H, HR, 2 RBI, 3 BB, 13 SO, .167/.286/.292
• 2019, First 8 Games (MIA): 27 PA, 25 AB, 4 R, 7 H, 3 HR, 6 BB, 10 SO, .280/.333/.640

Alfaro, 25, was dealt to the Miami Marlins this past offseason in the J.T. Realmuto acquisition. So far, on paper, Alfaro has performed better, with Realmuto slashing just .174/.310/.348 with a double, home run, five RBI, four walks and four strikeouts through his first 29 plate appearances in red pinstripes.

On Saturday, Alfaro launched an opposite-field solo home run off Braves rookie starter Kyle Wright in the fifth inning. Four innings later, he hit a go-ahead, two-run blast to right against southpaw reliever A.J. Minter. Alfaro similarly hit a ninth-inning home run in his Marlins debut against the Colorado Rockies on March 28.

Freddy Galvis, Toronto Blue Jays

• 2017, First 10 Games (PHI): 38 PA, 36 AB, 4 R, 7 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, BB, 10 SO, .194/.211/.417
• 2018, First 10 Games (SDP): 40 PA, 33 AB, 2 R, 12 HR, 2B, HR, 5 RBI, 7 BB, 7 SO, .364/.475/.485
• 2019, First 10 Games (TOR): 33 PA, 30 AB, 5 R, 10 H, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 3 BB, 6 SO, .333/.394/.667

Galvis, 29, is now two seasons removed since being a member of the Phillies. He has homered in back-to-back games, including a long ball against once Phillies prospect, dealt in the Cliff Lee trade, RHP Carlos Carrasco. On April 4, Galvis singled in the ninth against the Cleveland Indians to break up a combined no-hit bid by Trevor Bauer and two relievers.

The Blue Jays signed Galvis in January to a one-year contract with a club option for 2020.

Carlos Santana, Cleveland Indians

• 2018, First 8 Games (PHI): 36 PA, 29 AB, 6 R, 5 H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 6 SO, .172/.250/.448
• 2019, First 8 Games (CLE): 31 PA, 27 AB, 6 R, 12 H, 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 4 BB, 3 SO, .444/.516/.593

Santana, 32, was dealt to the Seattle Mariners this offseason, along with J.P. Crawford, in the Phillies' Jean Segura acquisition, but he was dealt not too long after again to the Indians. Santana previously played with the Indians from 2010 to 2017; he surely looks comfortable being back at home, so far.

On April 5, Santana slugged a walk-off solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, helping the Indians to a 3-2 win over the Blue Jays. On March 31, the switch-hitter went 4-for-4 with three RBI. 

Honorable Mentions:

• Asdrubal Cabrera (TEX): 9 G, 35 PA, 31 AB, 6 R, 7 H, 2B, 3 HR, 7 RBI, 3 BB, 10 SO, .226/.286/.548
• Ken Giles (TOR): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 4 G, 2 GF, 2 SV, 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 SO
• Aaron Loup (SDP): 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 3 G, GF, 2 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 SO
• Charlie Morton (TBR): 1-0, 1.64 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 7 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 HR, 4 BB, 14 SO
• Hunter Pence (TEX): 5 G, 16 PA, 15 AB, 4 R, 5 H, RBI, SB, BB, 2 SO, .333/.375/.333
• Wilson Ramos (NYM): 8 G, 28 PA, 27 B, 5 R, 11 H, 2B, 5 RBI, BB, 2 SO, .407/.429/.444
• Daniel Stumpf (DET): 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 2 G, 1 1/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R,0 BB, 2 SO

So-So:

• Luis Garcia (LAA): 0-1, 2.45 ERA, 4 G, 3 GF, 3 2/3 IP, 3 H, R, ER, HR, 2 BB, 2 SO
• Cole Hamels (CHC): 1-0, 5.73 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 11 IP, 12 H, 7 R, 7 ER, 3 BB, 9 SO

Ice-Cold:

• Luis Avilan (NYM): 0-0, 20.25 ERA, 2 G, 1 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 2 BB, SO
• Justin Bour (LAA): 7 G, 30 PA, 25 AB, 2 H, 2B, RBI, 5 BB, 8 SO, .080/.233/.120
• Peter Bourjos (LAA): 7 G, 16 PA, 15 AB, 2 R, H, BB, 6 SO, .067/.125/.067
• Jake Diekman (KCR): 0-0, 8.10 ERA, 4 G, 3 1/3 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 ER, BB, 3 SO
• Jeanmar Gomez (TEX): 0-0, 6.75 ERA, 4 G, GF, 2 2/3 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, HR, 2 BB, 2 SO
• J.A. Happ (NYY): 0-1, 6.48 ERA, 2 G, 2 GS, 8 1/3 IP, 10 H, 6 R, 6 ER, 3 HR, 3 BB, 8 SO
• Jeremy Hellickson (WSH): 0-0, 9.00 ERA, G, GF, 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, HR, 0 BB, 0 SO
• Erik Kratz (SFG): 3 G, 10 PA, 7 AB, 0 R, 0 H, BB, 0 SO, .000/.300/.000