Giles throws curve into off-season routine

Jays reliever Ken Giles converted every one of his 26 save opportunities in 2018. After tough year, reliever seeks out advice from family, former coaches

Not every pitcher has what it takes to enter a close game in the late innings and wrap up a victory.

Blue Jays closer Ken Giles is a member of that rare breed.

“Usually I’m just one of those lone wolves that goes about what I need to do, what I think is best for myself,” he said at the Jays’ weekend Winter Fest at the Rogers Centre.

Giles, acquired from the Houston Astros at the trade deadline last July, converted every one of his 26 save opportunities in 2018, with a 0.35 ERA in those games. In non-save situations, though, his ERA ballooned to 9.12.

While the trade with the Astros will be remembered by Jays fans for the departure of reliever Roberto Osuna — who was still serving a league suspension in relation to a domestic violence charge at the time — Giles arrived with baggage of his own and also saw the change of scenery as a chance to start fresh.

He made headlines for the wrong reasons on two occasions in Houston last year: first by punching himself in the face after giving up a home run to the Yankees’ Gary Sanchez in May, and then for hurling an obscenity at Astros manager A.J. Hinch during a pitching change in August, which led to a demotion to Triple A.

The 28-year-old right-hander knew he had to make some changes. When you’re young, he says, you think you know everything, but eventually you realize the lone-wolf approach might not be the answer.

So, the soft-spoken Giles flipped his regular off-season routine on its head this winter and came out of his shell. He mentioned frank conversations with his parents, agent and some former coaches. Wife Estela, who pitched for the Chica- go Bandits of the National Pro Fastpitch League and represented Mexico on the international stage, was also a big help.

“I think that’s the hardest thing to realize: that if you need something, you should ask for that help,” Giles said.

“That’s probably the hardest thing I had to do this year, but so far so good.

“I think I’m better than I was two years ago, three years ago. I feel like I’m back to who I was when I broke out in the big leagues now.”

When the Jays traded for Giles, general manager Ross Atkins said he had been one of the best closers in the game “at certain points” and suspected that last season’s incidents contributed to his availability. Giles started his career with the Philadelphia Phillies and recorded a tidy 1.56 ERA over his first season and a half. Houston parted with several prospects to acquire him in a seven-player deal after a 2015 campaign in which he converted 15 of 16 save chances. His ERA in save opportunities that season was 2.76; in non-save situations: 0.96.

Those are the numbers he’s hoping to get back to, and not just for himself. He’s high on the young talent in the Blue Jays system and wants to do his part to build a winning atmosphere during the rebuild.

“Any way I can seal a (win), I think that’s just going to be great for the confidence for the young kids coming up,” he said. “That’s all that matters to me.”