It has been reported that Second Baseman Jim Negrych has agreed to a minor league deal with the Philadelphia Phillies. Negrych, who turns 29 in March, spent all of last season in the International League with the Buffalo Bisons. He played in 108 games and hit .285 while adding 3 homers and 27 doubles. He played in 91 games with Syracuse in 2012 and 48 games with Indianapolis in 2010. He came up through the Pirates organization. He’s never been to the Majors. As of this writing, it’s not clear whether or not he’s been invited to big league camp. Just as with the Cedeno signing last week, depth has been added in case of injury to 2B on the MLB or AAA levels. With no MLB experience, it’s very doubtful that Negrych has an opt-out, so he may be with the IronPigs for the season depending on how things proceed through camp. He has the ability to play 3B and OF as well. He was a fast starter last season, hitting .429 in April and .310 in May.
Negrych is an International League veteran who should add depth at 2B in the Phillies minor league system. His presence should allow the Phillies to keep Cesar Hernandez with the big club if they so desire–and may allow Freddy Galvis to spend more time at Shortstop.
It’s been rumored lately that Galvis may start the season with the IronPigs–just as he ended the past season–in order to get regular at-bats and hone his already superior defense at Short. I believe this may benefit Freddy towards becoming a regular Shortstop and shaking the “utility” label. But then, I’m perhaps selfish, as I love watching him play.
More news on IronPigs roster watch as we move towards Pitchers and Catchers next month.
See you at the hockey game,
@Kram209
noisenation.mlblogs.com 
I agree with you on Galvis. He’s a natural shortstop, at times brilliant. He shouldn’t be playing the outfield or anywhere else. I hope the additions mean he’ll be able to stay where he belongs until it’s time to take over for Jimmie Rollins.
Not much extra base pop in his bat, but the thing I like about Jim Negrych is he gets on base. He walked 44 times last year which was more than anyone on the 2013 or 2012 Ironpigs. The last Ironpigs player to walk more than 44 times was Brandon Moss in 2011. He also scored 60 runs for Buffalo last year, Negrych has a lifetime OBP in AAA of .362. He had a good game against Tyler Cloyd & the Ironpigs last year on April 22nd hitting leadoff and going 3-5 with 2 runs scored and 2 RBIs and he was the starting second baseman for the International League in the 2013 AAA All-Star Game.
Yeah, the 27 doubles is pretty good, though. Sort of a poor-man’s Frandsen? Fielding pct is much better at 2B compared with 3B and he hasn’t really played SS at all lately. By comparison, Cesar had 42 BB and 13 doubles last season between LHV and REA (107 games vs. Negrych 108).
It’s certainly a name I recognized, though, from his visits over the years. And he knows the league well, so I don’t see him becoming a PCL-flame-out like some we’ve seen in the past. My worry is his hot start/decline. Perhaps he was injured:
April .429
May .310
June .284
July .185
August .195
Why is it that we always seem to sign scrawny little good field (?) NO HIT infielders like this guy, You know, Martinez, Fontenot, Brignac, Bocock, Abreu, Tolbert, the immortal Robbie Hudson and others. Can’t we find a novel idea like, oh maybe an out fielder who can hit some so we might be able to send John Mayberry packing. Hell, the Pigs only really had 3 outfielders (Castro, Susdorf and Gillies) while Reading also only had 3 (Collier, Hewitt and Dugan). Both teams kept filling in with little infielders who kept playing out there like, well infielders, with IF arms and basically inexperienced play. Galvis, Hernandez, Martinez, Orr and even 2Bman Cartwirght at Reading. My kingdom for an outfielder who can hit. Oh yeah, I don’t have a kingdom. Well sorry, you got me going again. That’s why the terms of my probation state that I can’t come within 50 yards of RAJ. And BTW, what’s with the Pigs only using one bat in the season finale. They should have had to forfeit when they broke it. I’d ask for my money back. but as you know tho I was there, I didn’t pay to get in. Maybe a class action suit will be needed if they try that again. Come on Spring..
Well, you know Nick, if those skinny little middle-infield types could really hit, they wouldn’t be in the minors, right? I know, the point is, why waste a spot for a bat in the outfield. It’s not like the defense is any kind of superior. We’ll see who ends up in Allentown and Reading this season:
Allentown: Sappelt, Gillies, Castro, Gwynn Jr. Thomas, Ruf
Reading: Altherr, Dugan, Perkins
Stuck in Traffic on 222: Hewitt, Collier
Maybe if we combine my kingdom and yours, we can find ourselves another Brandon Moss.
Your thoughts?
IronPigs could sure use another quality player like ANDY TRACY …