JAYS BELIEVE HERNANDEZ WILL MASTER THE OUTFIELD
Coach says young slugger working hard to overcome defensive shortcomings
Blue Jays first base coach Tim Leiper, who is also in charge of working with the team’s outfielders, was asked before Sunday’s game at Yankee Stadium about fans and media members who have issues with Teoscar Hernandez.
Many are complaining the second-year Blue Jay just isn’t good enough to become an everyday outfielder and is destined to be a full-time designated hitter.
“I’d say they’re idiots,” Leiper said. “I haven’t heard that, but that’s ridiculous.”
Leiper may feel it’s ridiculous, but the sentiment is out there.
Every time Hernandez turns a routine fly ball into an adventure in left or right field, social media lights up with fans and media demanding the Jays turn the 25-year-old slugger into a DH.
Hernandez started Sunday’s game at DH, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts as Toronto lost 10-2 to the New York Yankees.
Left-handed Jays starter Ryan Borucki walked Aaron Hicks and Giancarlo Stanton to start Sunday’s game.
Four hits later, including a grand slam by first baseman Greg Bird to right field, and the Yankees had a 6-1 lead.
Borucki was pulled after throwing 44 pitches and getting only two outs in the first inning and was replaced by Joe Biagini.
The Yankees scored four more runs in the sixth inning, while the Jays got solo home runs from Randal Grichuk, in the first, and Kendrys Morales, in the sixth inning.
The Jays were swept and gave up 28 runs to the Yankees in the three-game series. And the rebuild continues.
Meanwhile, Leiper believes Hernandez, a native of Cotui in the Dominican Republic, is getting better every day defensively and will develop into a solid corner outfielder before long.
“I know people right now probably roll their eyes when I say that, but I really do believe it, and the reason I say that is I know how much he cares and I know how good he wants to be,” Leiper said. “It’s going to start clicking and then it will become a lot easier for him.
“He’s doing all the things he needs to do. If you come in and see the work he does before the game, how hard he goes out and shags ...” Leiper said. “And if there is some difficulty, it just drives him to work a little bit harder. I think the biggest thing is, because he’s so athletic and because he does possess so many skills, just the harder he works, the more reps he gets, the more he sees balls off the bat, the more he experiences in this league, the better he’s going to get.”
Hernandez, whom the Jays acquired from the Houston Astros on July 31, 2017, in the Francisco Liriano trade, grew up playing infield and became a centre-fielder during his time in the Astros’ minor league system. It’s when he was called up to Houston the Astros decided to turn him into a left fielder.
So it’s been an adjustment for the easygoing outfielder, who is tied with Justin Smoak for the Blue Jays lead with 18 home runs.
“The ball doesn’t really move (when it’s) hit to centre,” Hernandez said. “The ball hit to right or left is moving (slicing or hooking), so it’s a little bit harder.”
Manager John Gibbons once said Hernandez is just one of those players whose bat has progressed quicker than his glove.
One thing you can’t deny, though, is that he has a strong arm. Hernandez is tied for third in the AL in outfield assists with nine, just one back of the leaders Andrew Benintendi and Mitch Haniger.
Leiper understands fans are anxious in terms of Hernandez’s defensive play.
He hopes the youngster doesn’t let it bother him.
“I just think the biggest thing — and I truly believe this — if you go out and you work, and you take as many reps as you can at game speed, good things are going to happen. Especially to athletic people,” he said.
“I know (the naysayers) are out there. I don’t really read it, I don’t know what he reads, but I don’t want to factor that stuff in. The important thing is, he wants to play every day, and he wants to be great. And when something goes wrong, I can promise you nobody feels worse about it than him.”
If you go out and you work, and you take as many reps as you can at game speed, good things are going to happen.