While Lehigh Valley lay covered in snow, many IronPigs are staying hot in the Caribbean Winter Leagues; not the least of which being SS Freddy Galvis.

Galvis (.245-3-25 in 62 G with LHV last year) is feeling right at home in his home-country, batting .306 in the Venezuelan Winter League while hitting 2 HR in 50 G. The utility infielder played 70 G for the big club last season and is currently listed on the Phillies' 40-man roster. If he keeps his batting average up in spring training, Galvis has a chance to again earn an opening-day roster spot.

As for possible Pigs pitchers, RHP Luis Garcia is dealing in the Dominican Winter League. Garcia, who had a combined 1.51 ERA in three stops in the Phillies' minor league system, has a 1.81 ERA in 15 G this winter including 2 SV in 3 chances. If Garcia finds himself on the Phillies opening-day roster it will just be one more chapter in his amazing "from hairstylist to major league pitcher" story.

Garcia's DWL teammate, LHP Greg Smith, has been the most used of the 2013 IronPigs pitchers this winter, making 6 starts with a 4.18 ERA in 23.2 innings. The eight-year veteran joined the Phillies organization last May after being released by Toronto, and finished the year 8-4, 3.31 in 23 G, 14 GS with LHV.

LHP Mario Hollands, who last played for LHV in 2012, has made four starts and four relief appearances in Venezuela posting a 2.45 ERA with 23 K in 25.2 IP. Hollands' VWL numbers were good enough to earn him an invite to the Phillies spring training.

Other IronPigs playing in the winter leagues include OF Leandro Castro (.278-0-8 with 3 SB in 27 G), 2013 IL All-Star 2B Cesar Hernandez (.254-2-15 with 2 SB in 31 G), and 3B Maikel Franco (.226-3-14 with 3 SB in 47 G). Also, newly signed OF Bobby Abreu is leading all Phillies with at least 20 AB in Caribbean Winter Leagues with a .322 BA in 50 G. 39-year-old Abreu has also added 3 HR, 10 2B, and 3 3B.

The Caribbean leagues aren't the only baseball being played by IronPigs; seven players in the Phillies organization were invited to this off-season's prestigious Arizona Fall League. The AFL consists of six teams, each team with five MLB feeder teams. The seven Phillies' prospects where among the twenty-seven players from the Astros, Mariners, Padres, Phillies, and Royals invited to play for the Peoria Javelinas.

C Cameron Rupp (.269-6-24 in 53 G with LHV) acted as one of the Javelinas two catchers, playing 14 of the teams 31 games, and batted .278 and adding 1 HR. Rupp finished hot last season (.310-4-12 in 29 G after all-star break) and will likely start the 2014 season as the Pigs starting catcher and a key part to the offense.

After giving a spark (0 ER in 7 IP) to the IronPigs bullpen late last year, RHP Mike Nesseth also received an invite to Arizona; posting a 9.20 ERA with 9 K in 14.2 IP in 9 appearances. RHP Kyle Simon (4.45 ERA, 11 SV in 56.2 IP for AA Reading in 2013) posted at 3.14 ERA with 11 K in 14.1 IP for the Javelinas.

With the winter leagues in their final days, Phillies prospects will soon look forward to the 2014 season with pitchers and catchers reporting on Feb. 13.