Sep 15, 2021; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Freddy Galvis (8) reacts to his two run home run against the Chicago Cubs during the fourth inning at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports Bill Streicher
After a 19-year career in professional baseball, with 10 of those years spent in MLB, Freddy Galvis announced his retirement via his Instagram Friday.
The Phillies signed a 16-year-old Galvis as an international free agent from Venezuela in 2006. Galvis played in Philadelphia from 2012 to 2017, and his elite defensive play locked down the Phillies' shortstop position during a time period that was otherwise uncertain for the team.
He returned to Philadelphia for the second half of the 2021 season and made his last major league appearances with the team that took a chance on him.
Galvis' personality made him a fan favorite, and it also endeared him to his teammates. Between his two stints with the Phillies, he played for San Diego in 2018, Toronto in 2019, Cincinnati in 2019 and 2020, and Baltimore in 2021. Along the way, he crossed paths with many current members of the Philadelphia Phillies, all of whom remember him fondly.
Somebody posted this Howie Kendrick to Freddy Galvis double play from 2017 on Instagram and I forgot how good it was. pic.twitter.com/7r882Ltg25
— Luke Arcaini (@ArcainiLuke) May 27, 2025
"One-Step Freddy, yeah," Matt Strahm said with a grin as soon as Galvis' name was mentioned.
In 2018, Strahm played with Galvis in San Diego. Strahm pitched his way to a 2.05 ERA in 41 games, and Galvis played defense in every single one; in fact, he played in all 162 games for the Padres that year.
So what gives with One-Step Freddy?
Strahm said that pitchers like their hitters to be thrown out at first base by four or five feet. That cushion gives them some room to work with. One-Step Freddy did not exactly subscribe to that philosophy.
"Anytime I'd give up a ground ball to Freddy in the hole, it was almost like he wanted to make sure the logo was in the right spot when he would throw it," Strahm said, pointing out the Rawlings logo on the baseball in his hand.
"And I'm sitting here watching this like, 'come on Freddy, come on Freddy,' BOOM! By half a step. And you're like, 'Dude!'"
Even though he caused Strahm (and probably many other pitchers) some unnecessary anxiety on the mound, Galvis' defensive prowess was nearly unmatched. He was a three-time Gold Glove finalist at shortstop from 2016 to 2018. Those natural defensive instincts were what stuck out to Strahm.
"My memory of Freddy was the panic he caused me on the mound. But it was kind of unneeded panic, because he's so good. His internal clock of who's running and how much time he has, it's the best I've ever seen on the field," Strahm said.
"I would say Freddy gave me anxiety, but there was no reason to have it, other than I've never seen anything like it, where he could do that. But yeah, Freddy Galvis is the ultimate teammate, for sure."
Although Galvis only played half of the 2019 season with the Toronto Blue Jays, former teammate Jordan Romano says he made a lasting impact on one of the team's future franchise cornerstones.
"Definitely a huge leader. I know Bo Bichette, he would talk about Freddy really helping him out in that shortstop position. He really helped Bo out. Awesome guy, everyone liked being around him, and a really good leader," Romano said.
"He came in, veteran presence, all the young guys were always talking to him, picking his brain."
Bo Bichette was in his rookie year at the time. Since then, he's gone on to become a two-time All-Star and a fixture at shortstop for Toronto.
Congratulations to former Phillies INF Freddy Galvis who announced his retirement from Baseball today!pic.twitter.com/kSgIGrRJkJ
Galvis crossed paths with Nick Castellanos for one season in Cincinnati. Although the 2020 season, shortened by COVID-19, was undoubtedly strange, Galvis showed up, played 47 out of 60 games, and made an impression. Castellanos called him an "amazing" teammate.
"Very routine-oriented, worked really hard, never made excuses. Never took out his own struggles on anybody else. Just somebody that I really enjoyed going to work with every day," Castellanos said.
In the Reds clubhouse, it was more of the same. Castellanos found him happy, upbeat, energetic, honest, and "not one for gossiping or anything like that, which was refreshing."
During his second stint on the Phillies, Galvis briefly played with Ranger Suárez. Suárez, a fellow Venezuelan, said that Venezuela rallied behind Galvis because he always gave it his all.
"Always a tremendous ballplayer, and always played at 100%. When he was here, too, I think that he always came to the field to give us his best," Suárez said.
"I think that's why they cheer him in Venezuela, because he did the same. He just went out to the field and gave the best of himself every time."
So what message do his former teammates have for Galvis as he heads into retirement? Castellanos and Strahm said the same thing: enjoy it.
"You've earned every part of it, and it was a pleasure to be your teammate," Strahm said.
"You really deserve it. Hell of a baseball player. You did everything the right way, and enjoy," Castellanos said.
