Jays giving converted outfielder Hernandez room to grow in September

BOSTON • One of t he knocks against Blue Jays outfielder Teoscar Hernandez is that he is supposedly an average outfielder defensively, though with a strong arm and good speed.

But you have to cut the 24-year-old some slack. Hernandez is still learning how to play all the outfield positions and, frankly, is still learning the nuances of the sport.

Though he’s f rom t he baseball hotbed of Dominican Republic, Hernandez grew up playing basketball and volleyball and only started pursuing baseball ser- iously when he was signed as an i nternational f ree agent by the Houston Astros in 2011 for all of $ 20,000. But it’s his athleticism and power potential that i ntrigues the Toronto front office and that’s why he is getting such a close look as a September call-up.

Hernandez is 6- 2, 180 pounds and is highly gifted athletically. But he is still learning how to play outfield, having signed with the Astros as an infielder.

“I played shortstop before I signed ( with Houston),” Hernandez said this week.

Hernandez is slotted as the organization’s fifth-rated prospect, behind third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., second baseman/shortstop Bo Bichette, outfielder Anthony Alford and shortstop Logan Warmoth.

“Anywhere they want me to play I’ ll do my best and work hard,” he said. “Right now, my favourite position is centre. But I don’t care if they put me in left or right.”

Hernandez acknowledged he probably has a better opportunity of staying in the bigs in Toronto than he would have in playoff-bound Houston.

Various scouting sites suggest that Hernandez is capable of hitting 20-25 home runs as a season and could play right field with his strong arm.

With the likelihood that Jose Bautista won’t be back next season, the Jays may be hoping Hernandez improves enough to become a regular next season.