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Toronto Blue Jays: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. gets surprising promotion

By Austin Owens

TORONTO, ON - JULY 1: A general view of Rogers Centre as a large Canadian flag is unfurled in the outfield on Canada Day during the playing of the Canadian national anthem before the start of the Toronto Blue Jays MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on July 1, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - JULY 1: A general view of Rogers Centre as a large Canadian flag is unfurled in the outfield on Canada Day during the playing of the Canadian national anthem before the start of the Toronto Blue Jays MLB game against the Boston Red Sox at Rogers Centre on July 1, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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One of the key signings during a quiet 2016 offseason for the Toronto Blue Jays, Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will get his chance in the majors after tearing up double-A

In what some are seeing as a surprising roster move, Shi Davidi and Hazel Mae of Sportsnet report that Toronto Blue Jays‘ infield prospect Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has been called up from double-A New Hampshire.

Gurriel signed a seven-year, $22 million deal with the Blue Jays back in November of 2016. At the time, he was ranked No. 6 on MLBPipeline.com’s Top 30 International Prospects List.

In 12 games with the Fisher Cats to start the 2018 campaign, Gurriel Jr. hit .347 while driving in 11 runs with three doubles, a triple and a home-run. In 14 games during spring training, Gurriel Jr. hit .292/.320/.375.

The younger brother of Houston Astros utility infielder Yuli, Lourdes shares his brother’s love of hair:

Aside from his great head of hair, the Cuban international brings a lot to the table for the Blue Jays. Like his brother, Gurriel Jr. can play around the infield. While Yuri is a corner infielder, Lourdes plays the middle of the infield as well as the outfield.

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If needed, the 24-year-old can go into the outfield if a player has an off-day, or there is a late-game defensive switch. However, it is more likely he is another option for Blue Jays skipper John Gibbons to use, in order to give either Devon Travis or Aledmys Diaz a rest day.

Travis fouled a ball off of his foot in Thursday’s contest against New York, so he is likely to be monitored closely by Jays staff in order to avoid the disabled list.

Teoscar Hernandez has had quite the start to his season in the majors. In five game with the Blue Jays, the outfielder has hit at a not-close-to-sustainable .375/.400/.708 line, with a home-run and six RBIs.

Hernandez has earned some more time with the Jays due to his strong play. With Kendrys Morales set to come off the disabled list, Toronto had to do some roster shuffling to make room.

As a result, pitcher Tim Mayza and infielder Gift Ngoepe were optioned to triple-A Buffalo.

Ngoepe only managed one hit in 18 at-bats, striking out 12 times and walking just once. Mayza has worked just one inning so far this season, surrendering one hit and walking one, while striking out one as well.

Next: Blue Jays getting contributions from unlikely sources

The Jays have a lot of faith in him, and hopefully, he can show something in his audition for the big club. Gurriel will likely head back to double-A when Josh Donaldson is activated. But for now, he’s got his chance. It’s on him to run with it.

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