Hernandez at home hitting
DH homers in first, claims he’ll work on everything this winter Teoscar Hernandez hit his 21st home run to jump-start Toronto’s offence Friday.
ST. PETERSBURG, FLA.—
The best of times, of season, for Teoscar Hernandez: April 18 at the Rogers Centre.
“One of my favourite moments in baseball. I almost hit for the cycle. I got the triple, the homer and two singles. Missed the double.”
Of which he would have, by the final series of 2018, 29.
He sighs but his eyes crinkle with amusement.
There is always a glint of good humour, and warmth, in the Dominican slugger’s eyes. He’s got an engaging personality. He’s got remarkable strength. He’s got, as of the series opener at Tropicana Field on Friday night, his 21st home run, a 409foot parabola that put Toronto on the board to lead off the sec- ond inning.
But, of course, the 25-year-old has also got a dang of a defensive problem playing the outfield. He drew the DH assignment last night, in Toronto’s 7-6 squeaker over the Rays in front of an announced crowd of 12,061. Dim-wattage between the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the AL East, albeit Tampa will finish well above .500 and more than15 games ahead of the Jays. Still, in many ways, it is the team which Toronto hopes to emulate with a quick-tempo turnaround.
It will be interesting to see if the Jays can “fix” Hernandez or if he can fix himself in the offseason. He expects to play winter ball in the Dominican Republic. “At least I’ll be home.”
While Hernandez has settled down since the dog day yips of August, there’s no denying he’d become skittish on balls batted in his direction, often taking weird routes, off-angles, misjudging balls over his head.
“I don’t think my defence is that bad,” Hernandez gently pushed back. “I’m feeling a lot more comfortable. What I want to work on is my hitting.”
That’s his strong suit, really; 56 of his 111 hits have gone for extra base, the 50.5 per cent extra-base-hits rate is seventh highest in major league baseball. He reached 20 homers for the first time in his career.
Lots of upside. But, hoo-boy, the strikeouts: a club-high 162.
The twinkle turns into a wince. “I’m going to work on all of it,” vowed Hernandez, who had an eye on Friday.
It’s clear he’s been reflecting on the season as the hours and minutes tick down on ’18. In Game 160, some were making bids for jobs next year (Rowdy Tellez homering), some simply sucked up the thrill of The Show (career minor-leaguer Jon Berti doubling), and some carved out bitsy personal bullet-marks (a pair of stolen bases by Richard Urena).
And a mighty bases-loaded triple by pinch-hitter Randal Grichuk that turned the tide in the seventh.
One hundred and sixty down, two to go. And a 90-loss season averted, by an eyelash.