Jays prospect Bec embracing new position behind the plate

Toronto Blue Jays 2018 fifth-round pick Chris Bec is embracing his new position behind the plate. Photo: Christiana Qesko

By Christiana Qesko

DUNEDIN, Fla. – It was only a matter of time before Toronto Blue Jays prospect Chris Bec found his position.

More accurately, before someone found it for him.

“I was a shortstop at my high school (in Miami) and then a couple of scouts told me that it would be a good idea to convert into a catcher,” he said, at the minor league complex on Wednesday.

One of them was Blue Jays scout Gil Kim, who had seen him (at the University of Maine) when Kim was a scout with the Texas Rangers.

“It turned out fine and I made the adjustments. I believed in myself and all my supporters and coaches believed in me, they all helped me to get to where I am today.”

Catching, the 23-year-old Bec said, “allows more control with the pace of the game. Helping out the pitchers. That’s basically it. I think a big positive that I have is that I understand this game pretty well, I know how to manage it.”

The Blue Jays used a high pick in last June’s draft (fifth round) and assigned him to the Rookie League Vancouver Canadians. He feels he is mentally prepared to take the next step.

“This game is a tough game and there are a lot of negatives and a lot of failures but in order to succeed in this game you’ve got to have a tough mindset,” Bec said. “It is something that I have, so negative comments or negative situations do not get to me.”

He says he’s not really worried about competition, that he helps his teammates and they help him.

“We are not really here to compete against each other,” Bec said. “There is plenty of room for us in the big leagues.

“You know, I’ve been that kid that all he wanted to do was to play professional baseball and I have been that kid that was on the brink of not making it to professional baseball.

And that has taught adversity can be a good thing.

“As soon as you overcome that then there is always light at the end of the tunnel.”