March 9, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

One of the more compelling storylines this spring centers around how Blue Jays' manager Charlie Montoyo will deploy his defence in 2021.

It was Lourdes Gurriel Jr.'s chance to play musical chairs on Tuesday, sliding over from his customary spot in left field and starting at first base for the first time this spring.

All told, Gurriel Jr. was responsible for six puts outs and picked up an assist after snaring a Travis Jankowski grounder in the third inning.

"He made a nice play down the line and looked really comfortable," said Montoyo during a Zoom call after the Blue Jays 4-1 win over Philadelphia. "He has good hands, and he did a good job today."

Although playing the infield is nothing foreign for Gurriel - who arrived in the big leagues as a shortstop and spent time at second base before moving to the outfield in 2019 - first base is relatively new.

The biggest challenge involves quieting his instincts and not attempting to go after everything hit to the right of the bag.

"When you play second, short, or third and then suddenly you're playing first, you have the tendency to go and get that ground ball," said Gurriel Jr. through a translator, when asked about how difficult the defensive mindset can be after moving over. "It happened today on a ground ball to second. I was almost going to go for it, but I thank God reacted, and I just went back to the base."

In addition to coaches Luis Rivera and Guillermo Martinez, Gurriel Jr. also has his older brother to lean on as he adjusts to the Blue Jays' added demands.

Through parts of five seasons with the Houston Astros, Yuli Gurriel has just 16 errors across 3,217 defensive chances at first. What's more, 3385 of his 4218 2/3 innings in the big leagues have come at that position.

"We talk every day about that transition," said Gurriel Jr. "He's always giving me a lot of advice. How to play first base and how to make adjustments, especially with the footwork."

SHORT HOPS

-OF George Springer was scheduled to start on Tuesday but was a late scratch with left abdominal tightness. "He had a full workout, but he had some soreness in his left abdominal," explained Montoyo. "We said OK, it's March whatever... 8th? There's no reason for you to play. He should be alright."

-LHP Steven Matz picked up the start and pitched three innings of one-hit ball en route to earning his first decision on the spring. Through five Grapefruit League frames (all against the Phillies), he's allowed just two hits while striking out six. Fifty-four of his 64 pitches have landed for strikes.

-Ross Stripling gets the ball for the first time when the Blue Jays travel to Sarasota for a 1:05 p.m. E.T. tilt against the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday. Anthony Kay, Travis Bergen, and Yosver Zulueta are scheduled to follow.

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