Lourdes Gurriel Jr.’s bat has gone cold this season but Toronto Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo isn’t overly concerned.
“We’ve got a young ball club and guys like Gurriel that are struggling you’ve got to give them a day off here and there so they can relax,” Montoyo said during an appearance on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Thursday. “It’s a grind.”
Gurriel has slashed a disappointing .129/.182/.194 through his first nine appearances this season yet it’s the 25-year-old’s versatility that sets him apart.
“Lourdes could get to be a guy like [Chicago Cubs utility man] Ben Zobrist,” Montoyo said. “He could play first, he could play third, he could play short, he could play second and with that bat that’s pretty good so I think that’s who he’s going to be. He could play in the outfield, too. He could play left, so I’m going to get him at-bats and he’s a young guy. Believe me he’s going to get better.”
Gurriel started 24 games at second base for Toronto in 2018 and another 46 games at shortstop. This season, he has three outings at first base and six at second base.
Zobrist, a three-time all-star and a switch-hitter unlike Gurriel, has already made multiple appearances in left field, right field and at second base this season while slashing .344/.462/.344.
Gurriel is by no means the only Blue Jays player to struggle at the plate — not to mention it’s only April, which is why Montoyo isn’t pressing the panic button.
“He had a good year offensively last year and he’s struggling right now but he’s just a kid and that’s why you’ve got to sit down with these guys like that and give him a day off here and there and tell him ‘you’re going to be OK because you’ve done it before,’” Montoyo said. “It’s tough for our guys right now because the whole lineup was struggling so everybody puts a lot of pressure on themselves and it’s not easy but the moment somebody starts swinging the bat everybody’s going to follow and that’s coming.”
We saw a sample of that Tuesday when the Blue Jays went into Fenway Park to spoil the Boston Red Sox home opener with a 10-hit, seven-run performance, including Gurriel stealing home plate.
The Blue Jays return to action Thursday night to finish their series against the Red Sox with Aaron Sanchez and Nathan Eovaldi the expected starters.
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