Toronto Blue Jays: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. repaying team for patience

While the Toronto Blue Jays aren’t enjoying success as a team right now, they should be thrilled about Lourdes Gurriel Jr. turning things around after a rough start.

There isn’t a lot to be excited about when it comes to the Toronto Blue Jays season as they are on pace for another miserable year.

What has kept fans from completely losing their minds is knowing the team has young prospects that will be a part of turning the franchises’ fortunes around. Lourdes Gurriel Jr. is one of those players and his season got off to a rough start especially his defensive game.

So the team decided to send him back to triple-A Buffalo and play him in the outfield hoping that time down there will help him recollect himself and make him a more versatile player. It appears he is repaying the Blue Jays patience back and giving them a reason to be optimistic.

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Against the Tampa Bay Rays, the 25-year-old hit his fourth home run in his sixth game since being recalled from the Bisons. Really there weren’t any doubts about what the Cuban could do, it was just a matter of trying to getting him refocused.

There are a couple of reasons why this is important. Obviously, Gurriel Jr.’s turnaround speaks highly of the work the Blue Jays have done with their minor league teams to ensure their young players are able to get the reps they need to prepare for the majors.

Also, this provides the Blue Jays with some much-needed roster flexibility because in the MLB young players that are capable of playing multiple positions are extremely valuable. There are players who are really good at one position which is expected but to have someone like Gurriel who can move around allows him to play more regularly.

He doesn’t have to compete for a player for a position in the infield or outfield and if there is an injury the team should be comfortable to have him plug that hole. They are trying to do with also with Brandon Drury, Billy McKinney and have experimented with Cavan Biggio too.

It might not be the most exciting news considering where this organization is right now but when this team is ready to take that next step they should be confident knowing they have laid the groundwork to get this team back to where it needs to be.