Toronto Blue Jays: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. sets a new standard
By Paul Taylor
Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is already proving he belongs in the Majors, after breaking a Toronto Blue Jays record during Saturday’s game in Chicago.
Think of some of the best hitters in Toronto Blue Jays history. You’re likely to reel off names such as Carlos Delgardo, Joe Carter, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion.
However, none of them ever did what Lourdes Gurriel Jr. accomplished on Saturday, against the Chicago White Sox. With his 10th consecutive multi-hit game, he set a new franchise record.
Gurriel Jr. set the new team standard with two hits from five at-bats. And even though it came in a losing effort, there is no getting away from how special his achievement was.
The 24-year-old had tied Tony Fenandez for the previous franchise record the night before. And it came in spectacular fashion, as he went 3-for-5 and hit two homers along with a couple of RBIs.
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It won’t surprise you to hear that Gurriel Jr. has been blazing a trail through the Majors in general of late. As per Sportsnet, he has a batting average over .400 and a OPS above 1.100 for the month of July.
The Cuba native’s achievement on Saturday was also significant for the Majors in general. As noted by Sportsnet Stats, he became the first rookie to have 10 straight multi-hit games since a certain Shoeless Joe Jackson in 1911.
In what has been an extremely disappointing season for the Blue Jays, Gurriel Jr. has proved to be a rare bright spot. In fact, he’s been proving he belongs in the big leagues, ever since his debut on April 20.
The Blue Jays made the rare decision to have the top-rated international prospect surpass Triple-A entirely. And he didn’t let them down, as he had two hits and three RBIs in his first game in the Majors.
Entering Sunday’s action, Gurriel Jr. has played 37 games for the Blue Jays. He has hit seven home runs and 18 RBIs, while accumulating a phenomenal slash line of .312/.331/.500.
There are still question marks about how effective the right-hander can be defensively, with him splitting time between second base and shortstop. Ultimately though, his future looks extremely positive, with the Toronto Blue Jays set to reap the benefits.
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How would you sum up the impact of Gurriel Jr. so far this season? And what where do you predict he will have his best chance of success defensively? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.