Jays manager measured in his plans once Guerrero migrates to Toronto
Montoyo says phenom likely to hit sixth, work way up after that, writes Rob Longley.
DUNEDIN, FLA. Charlie Montoyo has been so busy with the logistics of training camp that he has had little opportunity to watch baseball’s undisputed top prospect take batting practice.
He has heard the stories, however, and that time will come soon for the first-year Blue Jays manager, who is already pondering how he will use 19-year-old Vlad Guerrero Jr. when he graduates to the main roster, likely some time in April.
His first hunch? Bat the son of hall of famer Vlad Sr. sixth in the order, get him settled and then move him up.
“It’s always easier to move someone up in the order than down if for some reason he struggles at the start,” Montoyo said Thursday as he watched some live batting practice at the Bobby Mattick Training Center.
Montoyo stressed that there’s some water to cross under the bridge before then, including getting some spring training action against live pitching. Then there’s the little business of being officially added to the roster, a call that is in the hands of president Mark Shapiro and general manager Ross Atkins. Any decision will be made in consultation with his coaching staff, but for now Montoyo favours hitting Guerrero sixth to start and then working his way up, assuming performance merits the advancement.
“I look at it as a player-development thing,” said Montoyo, who acknowledged Guerrero will get some game action when Grapefruit League play gets underway this weekend. “You want him to be comfortable.”
Guerrero will see plenty of action this spring — as will several of the Jays’ top young prospects — as Montoyo said he wants to get them in as many games as possible.
VLAD SHOW
By all accounts, Guerrero is fitting in rather well with his new team and he’s already being treated as one of the guys.
During batting practice Thursday, veteran first baseman Justin Smoak had some playful chirps for Guerrero before he entered the cage. The kid responded with a towering home run into the wind and some 40 feet over the wall in deep centre at one of the practice fields.
Overall, Atkins sounded pleased with Guerrero’s transition into his first major-league camp.
“Vladdy has done nothing but impress us with his continued desire to be the best player he can possibly be and has transitioned very well,” Atkins said. “He’s got work to do, just continuing to refine the agility, continuing to refine the third-base play.
“This is going to be really, really good exposure and development for him facing major-league pitching, albeit not stretched out and seven innings of a majorleague starter. Seeing that sort of stuff will be good for him as well.”
SANCHEZ’S CLOSE UP
With Aaron Sanchez throwing a live bullpen session, Montoyo wanted to get a front-row view of the right-hander’s action, so he stepped in the batter’s box. But not for long.
“I wanted to just see what it looked like,” Montoyo said. “He looked really good, so I said ‘I’m out.’ I don’t want to get hit and be on the front page.”
FOUR FOR THE FIELD
Though Grapefruit League action doesn’t get underway until Saturday, the Jays are already eyeing a four-man outfield, according to Atkins. Kevin Pillar, in centre, and Randal Grichuk, in right, would be the mainstays with Teoscar Hernandez and Billy McKinney platooning in left.
“Grichuk and Pillar have more established track records, but being open to different configurations and different ways and matchups will be a strength of this major-league staff and that will influence the playing time of all of those individuals,” said Atkins.
With those four ahead of him and young players busting up behind him, it doesn’t sound good for Canadian Dalton Pompey.
“To deal with injuries and not meeting expectations of his own to not meet expectations of fans, (I) can understand how frustrating it is,” said Atkins. “What we’ve tried to focus on with Dalton is just his routines and work ethic and focusing on very small things that he can control and see if he can turn doubles into home runs.”