 Freddy Jose Galvis ( born November 14 , 1989 ) is a Venezuelan Major League Baseball shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies . Galvis was born in Punto Fijo , Falcón , Venezuela , and played Little League Baseball including the Little League World Series there before being discovered by one of the Phillies ' scouts in the area . At age 16 , he signed a contract with the Phillies despite not receiving much attention from scouts ; he went on to spend the next several years in their minor league system , including a particularly lengthy stint with the Reading Phillies , the Phillies ' Double @-@ A ( AA ) affiliate . In 2012 , he made his major league debut on opening day at second base , substituting for the injured Chase Utley . He became a fan favorite for his performance early in the season , especially on defense , until he sustained an injury , and subsequently was suspended 50 games after a positive test for performance @-@ enhancing drugs . He missed the remainder of the season . Over the course of the next two seasons , he split time between the Lehigh Valley IronPigs – the Phillies ' Triple @-@ A affiliate – and the major league ball club , but struggled to establish himself offensively . Entering 2015 , his future with the club was uncertain , although with the departure of Jimmy Rollins , he was a candidate to be the team 's starting shortstop . 
