10th Anniversary Team Vote: Shortstop
With the 10-Year Anniversary season around the corner, the IronPigs are enlisting fans to help assemble a 10-Year Anniversary Team. This All-IronPigs squad will be featured in team publications and on select promotional items during the 2017 season.
Each week, the IronPigs will host an "election" for a different position via Twitter. The player with the most votes will be named to the team. There will be four candidates for each position. Each candidate has been selected in advance and must meet certain requirements - first, and foremost, that each played his listed position as a primary position for at least one season with Lehigh Valley. Some players will appear at multiple positions throughout the voting process.
A summary making a case for each candidate will appear in a position feature on www.ironpigsbaseball.com. It is encouraged that votes be cast for each player's performance as an IronPig as opposed to prospect status or later success in Major League Baseball.
Dec. 19-Dec. 25: Shortstop
SHORTSTOP (L to R in photo above):
Chase d'Arnaud, Andres Blanco, Freddy Galvis, J.P. Crawford
Click here to vote!
Chase d'Arnaud (2015)
Career Stats: .268-5-35 in 120 G, 28 SB
Bacon Bits: Despite being with the IronPigs for just one year, d'Arnaud arguably put together the best offensive performance in a single-season from the position. During the 2015 season, the native of Torrance, Calif., tied for the team lead in games played (120) while besting all IronPigs in runs scored (77), triples (5), stolen bases (28) and multi-hit efforts (41). In International League rankings, d'Arnaud finished tied for second in runs scored and tied for fifth in stolen bases. He also finished with Lehigh Valley's highest single-season batting average (.268) from a shortstops who qualifies for league leaders. His value to the team could also be measured by the fact he also made starts at third base (31) and left field (2) as well as from the fact the IronPigs went just 6-30 (.231) in games he did not start in 2015.
Andres Blanco (2012, '14)
Career Stats: .236-10-51 in 165 G, .971 FPCT
Bacon Bits: Another fan favorite, Blanco was a slick-fielding shortstop that had a propensity for the big hit. "Whitey," who missed all of 2013 after undergoing shoulder surgery, committed just eight errors in his two seasons in Lehigh Valley - and just one in his 45 games in 2014. Offensively, his 10 home runs in 2012 were the most in a season by an IronPigs shortstop as well as a personal career-high (he entered the season with just 16 in 842 career games). During that same campaign, he became the first IronPig all-time to hit two, walk-off home runs in one season (5/21; 8/1) as well as the first ever to hit both a walk-off home run and a grand slam (7/23) at Cola-Cola Park. Over his last 64 contests in the IL, the Venezuela native hit a solid .270 while committing just one error.
Freddy Galvis (2011, '13-14)
Career Stats: .264-6-48 in 130 G, .987 FPCT
Bacon Bits: Galvis made a huge impact with IronPigs from the moment he made his Triple-A debut as a 21-year-old in 2011. The Venezuela native joined the IronPigs in August in the midst of a playoff chase -- and hit .298 in 33 games while committed just three errors and making an array of highlight-reel plays at shortstop. In 2013, Galvis committed just three errors and, at one point, sported a 40-game errorless streak (6/30-8/11). He finished the season with a .988 fielding percentage, which was best among all Triple-A shortstops with at least 27 games played in 2013. He followed that performance up by only committing one error in 35 games with Lehigh Valley in 2014 to finish his IL career with a spectacular .987 fielding percentage (seven errors in 546 total chances). Offensively, Galvis held his own over parts of three seasons, batting .264 with six home runs and 48 RBI while hitting safely in 13 of his last 18 contests in the IL (22-72, .306-3-10, 6 2B, 12 R).
J.P. Crawford (2016)
Career Stats: .244-4-30 in 87 G
Bacon Bits: The Phillies top prospect became the youngest IronPigs all-time (21 years, 130 days) when he made his debut on May 20. Crawford was on pace for a terrific offensive stat line before he was derailed by an oblique injury in August. Despite struggling upon his return, the Long Beach, Calif., native still hit .269 with four home runs and 28 RBI over his last 68 games. Crawford batted .349-4-19 during a 31-game stretch from June 11 to July 16, during which time he posted a season-high, seven-game hitting streak (7/5-7/14) and his first career Triple-A home run - a game-winner in the top of the 10th inning against first-place Scranton/WB on July 5. The 21-year-old also provided a series of dazzling plays in the field during his first campaign with Lehigh Valley.
Catcher: Erik Kratz (68%)
Other Nominees: Andrew Knapp (28%), Jason Jaramillo (5%), John Suomi (3%)
First Base: Andy Tracy (49%)
Other Nominees: Darin Ruf (34%), Cody Overbeck (9%), Russ Canzler (8%)
Second Base: Cesar Hernandez (43%)
Other Nominees: Kevin Frandsen (40%), Tyler Henson (14%), Josh Barfield (3%)