Phillies hope for improved approach at plate from Galvis

CLEARWATER, Fla. (AP) Jimmy Rollins is Philadelphia's franchise leader in hits.

The man in line to replace him at shortstop batted .176 last year.

Needless to say, Freddy Galvis will have to exceed expectations to give the Phillies anything close to the offensive production they received from Rollins, who was traded during the offseason after 15 years in Philadelphia. Galvis is no newcomer - he's played 171 games for the Phillies - but the team is hoping he can re-invent himself a bit at the plate, and the 5-foot-10 infielder is eager for the chance to become an everyday player.

''I feel ready for the opportunity,'' Galvis said Sunday. ''I think for everybody, if you play every day, you have a chance to do a different approach, you have a chance to get more at-bats. If you go 0 for 4 one game, you have another game to play.''

Galvis made his debut on opening day in 2012, but he has yet to settle in at any one position. Injuries and a drug suspension set him back, and although Rollins' departure left an opportunity at shortstop, Galvis still has a lot to prove with the bat. Right now he's a career .218 hitter, but the rebuilding Phillies can be patient with him. They'd like Galvis to show he can shorten his swing.

Although his average has been poor, Galvis has shown some power, hitting 13 home runs in those 171 games. But he's also struck out 104 times.

''He'll get a constant reminder about what he needs to do on the offensive side of things to help us win games, and what's expected of him,'' manager Ryne Sandberg said. ''He needs to be ready to do some little things - hit-and-run and bunt and safety squeeze and put the ball in play.''

In other words, no need to try to emulate Rollins, who has surpassed 20 homers four times and hit 17 last year. Rollins was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

''Jimmy was the man here in Philadelphia,'' Galvis said. ''I have to do my game. I don't have to do Jimmy's game.''

Galvis was on the disabled list with a back injury during his rookie season when he was suspended 50 games for testing positive for a metabolite of Clostebol, a performance-enhancing substance. Galvis said at the time he would never knowingly use anything illegal to enhance his performance, and he couldn't understand how a trace amount of a banned substance got into his body.

The following year, Galvis had his best season so far at the plate, hitting .234 with six home runs in 70 games. He split time that season between second base, third base, shortstop and left field.

Last year, Galvis had an infection in his left knee during spring training, and he started the regular season 2 for 42 before being sent to the minors in May. After coming back up to the Phillies, he hit .247 the rest of the way with an OPS of .760 - numbers that would represent progress if Galvis can produce them for a full season.

''I have to do the fundamentals of the game - move the runner, be on base,'' Galvis said. ''That's what I see myself in the big leagues.''

Sandberg says Galvis has the ability to make adjustments to his approach, it's just a question of having the right mentality. That's the type of thing that can be honed during spring training - especially since Galvis clearly is part of the team's plans for the immediate future and won't be under major pressure to post a high batting average in exhibition games.

''He has that going for him,'' Sandberg said. ''I think in a lot of ways it's a totally different spring for him, and in some ways he should feel that way.''

NOTES: Former Phillies catcher Darren Daulton, who was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013, was at camp Sunday and said a recent MRI came back clean.

''I'm doing great,'' he said. ''When the doctor walks in and opens the door and he starts smiling, then everything is cool. I can do whatever I want. Everybody has been great. I've been hanging out with a lot of people from Philadelphia that have similar problems.''

''It just happens and it happens to different people. I just try to say the right things. There have been a couple that have passed away. It would be nice if everybody didn't have to deal with this cancer situation,'' he said.