Blue Jays: Lourdes Gurriel Jr. could end up being the best of them all

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has the raw talent and offensive clout to potentially become the best player of the promising bunch.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not sure I would feel comfortable betting against the likes of Bo Bichette or Vladimir Guerrero Jr. but if Lourdes Gurriel Jr. can find a way to remain on the field, he will definitely rival if not surpass their offensive outputs. He is that good!

If you combine Gurriel’s first two seasons he is hitting .282/.324/.504 with 154 hits including 59 extra-base hits and 30 home runs in 145 games. The 25-year old has also knocked in 82 and swiped seven bags in 588 plate appearances.

For comparison sake, Vladdy has 41 extra-base hits and 15 homers in 473 plate appearances thus far this season. The third baseman is more apt to work a walk and because of that sports a higher on-base percentage than Gurriel.

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That output has also come over the course of two seasons in which Gurriel has been shelved three times with hamstring, knee and quad injuries. If that wasn’t enough, earlier this season Gurriel was demoted and then forced to abandon his infield aspirations for a full-time position in left field.

There is no doubting Gurriel has had his mental fortitude tested since his short time in the majors. Yet, Gurriel has risen from every obstacle thrown his way thus far which should bode well for him moving forward.

In order for Gurriel to take his game to the next level, he will have to do a better job at making consistent contact and in-game adjustments at the dish. Gurriel has struck out 139 times, good for an inflated 23.6% clip which needs improvement especially when he only walks 4.9% of the time.

Gurriel often gets overlooked because of Bo, Vladdy and even to a lesser extent Cavan Biggio but make no mistake, he is a premier major league talent who has only scratched the surface of his capabilities.