INJURY DERAILS GURRIEL’S RIDE
Infielder’s World Series pursuit ends after sprain leads to roster removal
The Astros removed Yuli Gurriel from their World Series roster Saturday after the veteran first baseman suffered a right MCL sprain during a rundown in Game 5.
Gurriel received treatment during the team’s off day Friday before running the bases and in the outfield prior to Game 6 on Saturday. Both manager Dusty Baker and general manager James Click indicated Gurriel did not respond well to the running.
“It was obvious from how he was moving and from talking to him that he would not be available tonight or tomorrow,” Click said Saturday. “We did think about waiting 24 hours to see if maybe he would be available tomorrow, if we end up playing tomorrow, but based on the diagnosis, that was not a possibility.”
Gurriel was not available for comment before the game. Baker said Gurriel “had tears in his eyes” after arriving at the realization he would not be available to finish Houston’s pursuit of its second World Series.
“You could tell how badly that he wanted to play,” Baker said. “We just couldn’t do it and had to replace him.”
Houston added rookie catcher Korey Lee on its roster as Gurriel’s replacement, affording Baker a chance to catch Martín Maldonado and play his backup — Christian Vázquez — at designated hitter. Gurriel had a team-high .347 batting average during the club’s first 12 playoff games.
Gurriel’s absence could be accentuated Saturday behind starter Framber Valdez, a ground ball machine who relies on elite defense. Gurriel, the reigning American League Gold Glove winner, gave way to Trey Mancini, who said Thursday he had not taken grounders at first base since early last month.
Removing Gurriel from the World Series roster may have also ended his Astros career. The 38-year-old is scheduled to enter free agency this winter after one of his worst seasons as a major leaguer.
A year after winning the American League batting title, Gurriel slashed .242/.288/.360 in 584 regular-season plate appearances. Baker maintained immense faith in Gurriel, whose sure-handed defense and ability to put the ball in play persisted despite his offensive decline.
Considered one of the greatest players in Cuban baseball history, Gurriel defected to the United States and signed a fiveyear, $47.5 million contract with the Astros in 2016. He made his major league debut later that season and cemented himself as a franchise cornerstone.
Gurriel has started 801 games across a seven-year Astros career and compiled a .284 career batting average. He caught the final out of the 2017 World Series at Dodger Stadium, a chance this injury deprived him of repeating.
“He’s been one of the core guys that’s been here since the team started winning and throughout this entire run,” Click said. “It’s impossible to put into words what he’s meant to this franchise, both on the field and off, and what he does for our ability to add talent, particularly from Cuba, and everything he means to that country. He’s been a bedrock of this organization for his entire career.”