Galvis trying to turn his late-season work into an everyday affair

FREDDY GALVIS, who has made a habit of highlighting walkoff celebrations by giving the hero a good kick in the butt as he crossed the plate, was on the receiving end on Saturday night.

For the second time this season, Galvis hit a walkoff home run to deliver the Phillies a victory. His fellow rising infielder and countryman Cesar Hernandez provided the butt-kicking services.

"Cesar got me," Galvis joked the next morning.

But before Saturday's home run heroics, Galvis had a Hall of Fame hitter in his ear reminding him that trying to hit the long ball wasn't his best route to become a successful major league hitter. During batting practice on Saturday, manager Ryne Sandberg reiterated to Galvis what he had told the media a few days earlier about his great-glove, light-hitting infielder: shorten up your swing, use the other side of the field.

"He was telling me to stay toward leftfield, hit the ball on the ground more," Galvis said. "So that's what I've been trying to do in batting practice. And that's what I try to do when I get out there: Use a shorter, quicker swing."

Of course, if someone like Freddy Garcia wants to hang a changeup with the game on the line, Galvis is free to freelance.

Galvis, who turns 24 in November, could be facing a pivotal point in his career. Both shortstop Jimmy Rollins and second baseman Chase Utley are signed for 2014 - and are both likely to be back in 2015, too - and Galvis is unlikely to play another full season at Triple A next season.

Galvis began the 2013 season on the major league roster, but when regular playing time vanquished after Utley returned from the disabled list in June, the team thought it wise to send Galvis to Lehigh Valley, so his bat could continue to develop.

Galvis hit .245 with a .274 OBP for the IronPigs, striking out 51 times while walking only 11 times in 62 games. But Galvis' greatest value on the field, of course, is his glove, and Sandberg, a nine-time Gold Glove winner, thinks there's a spot for a guy such as Galvis on the major league bench.

"It's all hypothetical on how he'd be used, on how the bench would be used," Sandberg said. "[But] I think with the long season, I believe you need the best quality bench players you can have. For me, he fits that mold for all he can do on the field, defensively, along with consistent progress and work with his batting."

Sandberg said Galvis still needs to "figure out his role" on the offensive side of the game, and brought up Galvis' previous walkoff home run, off Cincinnati All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman in April, to help make his point.

"For me, it's more of the little stuff: the hitting and runs, the bunts, situational things," Sandberg said. "I was here when he hit the game-winning home run, and sometimes in ballparks like this, it can work against a guy like Freddy, where he tries to repeat that. That was just a nice, aggressive swing where the ball went out of the ballpark. On the offensive side, a part of that is just for him to adapt and learn what his role is."

"I think I was trying to pull almost every ball," said Galvis, who is hitting .217 with 13 extra-base hits in 58 games with the Phillies this season. "So now, I'm trying to let the ball go a little deeper and hit it the other way."

Since his return to the big leagues last week, Galvis has had ample opportunity to continue to develop his offense. He started four of the Phillies' five games since his most recent recall, including all three games against the Atlanta Braves over the weekend.

Galvis made two of those starts in leftfield; before 2013, he never played an inning in the outfield. While it's a bit curious using Galvis in the outfield when it negates his greatest strength - defense in the middle infield - it does increase his value as a versatile and viable major league utility player.

"In the beginning when I went to leftfield, I was kind of scared," Galvis said with a laugh. "But right now I feel good."

Nearly every National League team has a place on its bench for a versatile, defensive-minded extra. Eric Bruntlett played on a World Series-winning team and the ultra-light hitting Michael Martinez has managed to have more lives than a frisky cat in his ability to play that role.

With Utley and Rollins seemingly going nowhere in the next 2 years, it's also the most likely way Galvis can carve out a permanent spot in the major leagues, too.

"I feel just like I did in spring training this year," Galvis said. "I'll try to do the job wherever they put me. And I'll try to help the team when I play. If I do that, maybe I'll be on the team next year. So I'll keep working at every position, and do what I can to help the team."