National Post (National Edition)
JAYS’ HERNANDEZ APPROACHES YEAR AS CLEAN SLATE
‘I’M BETTER THAN THAT’: MISCUES IN FIELD, POOR PLATE DISCIPLINE PUT IN PAST
Teoscar Hernandez did absolutely nothing at the plate on Thursday.
He didn’t hit, he didn’t walk … he did not reach base for the first time in 11 Grapefruit League games.
As a result, his spring batting average actually plummeted below .500. Shameful.
“All the work I did in the off-season, I think it’s paying off,” the Blue Jays outfielder said before watching strike three in the first and flying to right in the third with his two trips to the plate in a 1-1 tie with the New York Yankees at Dunedin Stadium. “Everything is going pretty good. Health is good. The body feels good. I’m just trying to stay with the plan.”
The Hernandez plan that has him sailing along at a .481 clip with 13 hits in 27 at bats is, for him, easier said than done.
“My discipline,” said the pleasant 26-year old Dominican. “That’s one of the goals for this year … reduce those strikeouts and increase the on-base percentage. I think that’s going to be better for me and my career, and the team.”
The Jays plan for the outfield as Randal Grichuk in right, Kevin Pillar in centre and either Hernandez or Billy Mckinney in left. Mckinney, who is also having a nice camp, can play right or first base as well. Good thing, because the power-thin Jays need Hernandez’ stick in the lineup.
Ideally, manager Charlie Montoyo would have him batting third every day.
“If he keeps doing what he’s doing, yeah, because he’s almost like a perfect, three-hole hitter,” said Montoyo. “He can run, he’s got power and he could hit for average. So we’ll see. I’m not saying definitely he’ll be hitting third, but right now I like him there.”
Montoyo is overzealous with his scouting report on Hernandez, whom the Jays acquired along with throw-in Nori Aoki for Francisco Liriano two trade deadlines ago.
In 2018, he hit .239 with 22 homers, 57 RBI and five steals with 476 at bats, third most on the team. Alas, he also led the Jays with 163 strikeouts.
But yes, Hernandez is showing more discipline so far this spring, even while being struck out seven times.
“He’s not chasing bad pitches,” said Montoyo. “If he stays away from chasing bad pitches, he’s going to do well. I’m excited about the spring he’s having. He’s playing good defence in the outfield, too. He’s making the plays, the running catches.”
Ah, yes, the wart. Hernandez’s defence. Last season he made eight errors and, at times, look lost. The Jays sent first base coach Mark Budzinski to the Dominican in the offseason “to work with him,” said Montoyo.
Hernandez says the two talked, but “nothing about baseball.” Quite likely, the word “focus” was repeated in the conversations.
Hernandez has played solid-to-strong throughout his life.
“I’m not worried about it, because I know I can do better than that,” he said of his defensive slump in 2018. “What happened last year was last year. I’m not going to think about it. I’m just going to stay focused and keep going forward this year.
“It’s just one of those years that you have … I had one last year. But like I said that’s in the past, I’m not going to think about it. I’m going to think about this year.
“This one is the one that matters. Not thinking about those errors I made last year.”
Also not concerning Hernandez is the fact that he has yet to hit a home run this spring.
“I know if I keep hitting the ball hard, it’s going to go out,” he said. “Right now I’m not focused on that. I’m focused on my at bats, the way I take my at bats and the way I hit the ball, and the way I take those bad pitches for balls. I’m focused on trying to be more patient at the plate.”
And taking some confidence and momentum into the season. With that, he will start the season batting third.
“I’m not trying to think about it,” said Hernandez, who adds that he doesn’t care where he hits and notes the responsibility of that spot.
“As the third bat in the lineup you have to be more patient, you have to drive more RBIS, you need to do a better job in your at-bats, try to get on base more for (the guy) in the four hole. It’s a lot of responsibility, but I’m not going to think that way because I don’t want to put too much pressure on myself. I just want to go out there and have some fun, and try to do my job.”