Welcome back
Teammates greet Yuli Gurriel’s return with open arms.
Yuli Gurriel, the man with the most asymmetrical hairstyle on the roster, was considerably more precise when asked to judge the strength of his surgically repaired left hand as he returned to the active roster for Friday night’s game against the Rangers.
“Ninety-five to 97 percent,” Gurriel said in Spanish through a translator, to accompanying laughter.
Gurriel’s return was a source of good humor throughout the Astros’ clubhouse and for manager A.J. Hinch. He underwent surgery in late February to remove the hook of the hamate bone in his left hand after a spring training injury and went 9-for-21 in six rehab games at Class AA Corpus Christi.
“He brings joy to the clubhouse. Everybody likes him, and I’m happy to have him back and healthy,” said second baseman Jose Altuve. “Yuli is not an easy out. He’s a great hitter and a great teammate, and the whole team is happy to have Yuli back.”
Gurriel, who went 1-for-4 Friday, said only time will tell how he adjusts in strength and timing to major league pitching but he was eager to get back in the mix.
Watching Astros games on television, he said, “I felt like I wanted to jump into the TV and get on the field. … Little by little, I’ll get back to major league rhythm.”
Hinch said Gurriel will be welcome in the clubhouse — “He always brings a little bit of life to the party,” the manager said — as well as on the field.
“He will bring some good at-bats to the lineup. It makes it the longest lineup we can have, a guy we can throw in every day who can put up good at-bats. People love Yuli. Our guys love Yuli. I love Yuli.”
Hinch said Gurriel’s return will enable him to return Marwin Gonzalez to utility status, playing left field Friday night with some middle infield stints coming up soon. Gurriel, meanwhile, may see some time at third base, his primary position in Cuba, in addition to first.
“He played third in his rehab assignment and can play third in his sleep if we asked him to,” the manager said.
As Gurriel begins, belatedly, his second full major league season, Hinch expects him to improve against lefthanders as he picks up on the different styles of major league pitchers.
“He’s good at this game,” Hinch said. “He’s a good baserunner, even though he’s not fast, and he’s a good contact hitter when you need contact to get a run in. It’s another year of pressing forward of him getting comfortable on this team and in this role.”
Although Gurriel will get his normal days off, Hinch said he wouldn’t limit his playing time, presuming he shows no signs of trouble with his surgically repaired left hand.
Gurriel said he enjoyed his time with the Hooks, which have four Cuban players on their roster, but he was happy to be back in Houston.
“(My teammates) said they were happy to see me and that they felt we were going to start hitting again, so they’re very happy,” he said.
Davis to move around at AAA
Infielder J.D. Davis is out of sight, having been optioned to Class AAA Fresno to make room on the roster for Yuli Gurriel, but definitely not out of mind for the Astros.
Manager A.J. Hinch said the Grizzles will work Davis at first and third base and both corner outfield spots to increase his options should the Astros need help.
“Making J.D. a viable option at first, third, left and right is key,” Hinch said. “There are ways for him to be a factor. If he swings the bat the way he can, he could be an option sooner rather than later.”
Davis struggled in the season’s opening week but had five hits in 10 at-bats in Minnesota.
“He showed some adjustments, which was nice to see,” Hinch said. “As soon as you talk about how you’re going to send someone down, it always happens in baseball where the guy starts to go off. When he controls the strike zone, he’s a pretty good hitter at the big league level. When he chases, it’s difficult to survive up here.”
Thoughts for injured officer
Astros manager A.J. Hinch the team is keeping track on the medical condition of Houston policeofficer Jerry Flores, who fell from a golf cart during a benefit golf tournament Thursday and was being treated at a Houston hospital for head injuries.
Hinch said the Astros last week presented a World Series ring to Flores, who provided security for Hinch’s family during playoff road trips last year.
“It was tragic news to wake up this morning and hear that he is fighting for his life,” Hinch said. “I hope the whole city of Houston can keep him in their thoughts and prayers along with others who fight for our safety.”