The Blue Jays need Teoscar Hernandez to have Vlad Guerrero’s back. So far, so good

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/06/2021 (1614 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

It was one of the biggest questions heading into this Blue Jays season: Is Teoscar Hernandez for real?

Fans watched the now 28-year-old outfielder blossom in the 2020 season, and his efforts — 16 home runs and 34 RBIs in 50 games with a .289 batting average and .919 OPS — were rewarded with his first Silver Slugger award.

But there was an asterisk.

Part of it was the impact of the pandemic, shortening the season to 60 games and making comparisons to other years difficult. He also missed 10 of those games, suffering an oblique injury late in the season.

Never mind that he had been rolling since late 2019, following a spring demotion that year. He slashed .265/.331/.560 with 39 home runs down the stretch and through 2020, but the lingering question was whether he could sustain that level of production. Do it again. Prove it.

“Everything is about trust,” Hernandez said going into the year. “Just trusting myself and trusting the things I know I can do.”

Heading into Thursday night’s game against the New York Yankees, his production has continued to instil trust.

There was another hurdle to overcome in April, after he tested positive for COVID-19, and he didn’t reach the 50-game mark this season until the 66th game on the Jays’ calendar. But his stats year over year continue to improve.

Through Wednesday, Hernandez had four more hits than in his Silver Slugger season after the same number of games. His RBIs were up by seven, he’d struck out seven fewer times and taken one more walk. His batting average (.298, from .289) and on-base mark (.346 from .340) both continue to head in the right direction.

The improved strikeout rate stands out — down four per cent from last year, seven per cent since 2019. Patience at the plate and taking more pitches were tenets of Hernandez’s transformation. Streaky hitters are tempted to look for quick fixes, and he learned to avoid that pitfall after a strikeout-prone start to his big-league career.

His success at the plate has had a significant impact beyond his own stat line.

Locked in as a cleanup hitter to be reckoned with, opposing pitchers can’t afford to look past MVP candidate Vladimir Guerrero Jr. in the three hole.

Winnipeg Free Press | Newsletter

The Warm-Up

Winnipeg Jets Game Days

On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop.

Sign up for The Warm-Up

Sign Up

I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement.

“If you don’t pitch to Vladdy then you’re going to have to face Teoscar,” manager Charlie Monoyo said over the weekend. “That’s huge to have somebody behind you that swings the bat pretty good, is having a good year also. That’s the key: that Teoscar keeps swinging the bat like that.”

While several key indicators are pointing up, Hernandez’s power numbers are down from 2020. He had six fewer home runs through 50 games, and his slugging percentage was also down. The result is a more rounded package on offence. Power is now one element of his game, not the core. He’s reaching base more often and keeping more rallies alive.

He said earlier this week that his confidence is “really high” at the plate. A 7-for-39 slump in the first 12 days of June tested his ability to avoid looking for that quick fix. He weathered the storm, and says he’s ready to take his game to the next level.

“I’m starting to feel good again at the plate,” he said.

Laura Armstrong is a Star sports reporter based in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @lauraarmy