NL East Prospects: Pastornicky, Galvis Poised to Make MLB Debut on Opening Day

As a self-proclaimed prospect junkie, there are few things I find more exciting than a player’s major league debut.  Perhaps I’m just trying to live vicariously, but it’s hard not to be elated about the arrival of promising young talent.

It’s the day when a player’s childhood dream comes to fruition, as all of his hard work and perseverance finally pays off.  Not every player is slapped with the “stud” label like Bryce Harper or Mike Trout; we forget that most prospects have been forced to earn their opportunity after a gradual ascent through the minor leagues.

On Thursday afternoon, fans everywhere will witness the debut of two of the National League East’s finest middle infield prospects in the Braves’ Tyler Pastornicky and the Phillies’ Freddy Galvis.

Before taking in each prospect’s respective debut, here is what you need to know about them:

Freddy Galvis

A 5’9”, 170-pound middle infielder, Galvis was signed by the Phillies out of Venezuela as a 16-year-old.  He’s spent most of his minor league career playing shortstop, but with all of the uncertainty regarding Chase Utley’s return, he’s been exclusively playing second base during spring training.

A switch-hitter, Galvis—the Phillies' No. 6 prospect—squares up the ball with consistency while using the whole field. He’ll sneak one over the wall every now and then, but he has limited power overall. He doesn’t walk enough and therefore doesn’t utilize his quickness and instincts on the bases.  

The Phillies' 2011 Minor League Player of the Year, Galvis is one of the best defensive middle infielders in the minors. His plus range, soft hands and above-average arm from the left side of the infield are all big league-ready tools, so he should have no issue playing second base in Utley's absence.

Galvis will make his major league debut on Thursday, hitting out of the No. 8 hole when the Phillies open the season against the Pirates.

Tyler Pastornicky

Although not a spectacular player by any means, Pastornicky—the Braves’ No. 7 ranked prospect—has consistently produced while moving a level per year through the system. 

With Pastornicky, you know exactly what to expect: an above-average shortstop who puts the ball in play and can swipe some bags.

At the plate, the 5’11”, 170-pound shortstop makes consistent contact thanks to a line-drive swing and gap-to-gap approach.  He’s never been prone to the strikeout in his career, but he’s not one to walk, either. 

Once he learns to manipulate the count in his favor, the right-handed hitter could see a spike in doubles while drawing an extra walk here and there.

As a shortstop, a large portion of Pastornicky’s value lies in the fact that he’s an adept base-stealer who possesses good instincts as well as an ability to read pitchers.  He has all the makings of a solid big league shortstop, and there’s a realistic chance that he’ll exceed the Braves’ reasonable expectations.

The Braves open the 2012 season on Thursday on the road against the Mets, and it looks like Pastornicky will serve as the team’s eight-hole hitter in his major league debut.