Lourdes Gurriel Holding Private Workouts for MLB Teams
Shortly after Cuban phenom Jose Fernandez passes away, another Cuban talent may be coming to the MLB. Lourdes Gurriel is holding private workouts for interested teams.
Lourdes Gurriel is a 22-year-old Cuban looking to join an MLB team shortly. He had a successful open showcase and now will be performing private workouts for about a half-dozen teams. The Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Houston Astros, and Miami Marlins are amongst the teams interested in Gurriel.
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Lourdes Gurriel’s younger brother, Yulieski Gurriel, signed with the Houston Astros back in July and made his major-league debut in August. Lourdes, aka Yunito, is nine years younger than his brother. He turns 23 on October 10th and will be eligible to sign with any team of his choice at that time.
The younger Gurriel is a shortstop but will likely be switching positions if signed to a big league team. He is 6-foot-4, which is quite large for a middle infielder. Teams may look to move him to center field, third base, or elsewhere. It will likely come down to the needs of the professional organization.
Gurriel has shown a lot of power potential while playing in Cuba. Over 6 seasons in Cuba, he is slashing .277/.362/.426 (.967 OPS) with 27 home runs and 23 stolen bases. In over 503 total plate appearances in the last two seasons he has hit over .300 and has 49 walks compared to 51 strikeouts. Last season, he appeared at shortstop, third base, second base, but mainly played left field. In over 90 total chances, he committed one error.
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Lourdes Gurriel is a young Cuban prospect that a number of teams are interested in. His power potential, size, and athletic ability make him a high-profile target. With his private workouts beginning shortly, look for his name to hit headlines once he turns 23 and is eligible to sign.