Gurriel excited to start fresh in Arizona

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. -- When Lourdes Gurriel Jr. was shown a seven-year-old picture after workouts Thursday, a massive grin stretching from ear to ear emerged. The image, showing a baby-faced 22-year-old Gurriel shaking hands with Clayton Kershaw, is a reminder that this new era is about to provide a full-circle moment for him.

“It was a beautiful experience,” said Gurriel, reminiscing on his first time meeting a big leaguer. “It all feels fast. I’ve never had the chance to play the Dodgers or in that stadium, so I hope I get that opportunity.”

In December 2015, an MLB contingency of players including Kershaw, Miguel Cabrera and Jon Jay visited Cuba on a goodwill trip, hoping to bridge the gap between the country and the U.S. through baseball. On that trip, Jay introduced Gurriel to Kershaw and Cabrera at a baseball clinic. He remembers the stars being kind, taking the time to speak with him for a couple of minutes, creating a watershed moment. Gurriel was considered a top prospect, drawing attention for his incredible defensive skill and ability to hit the ball to all fields.

Just two months later, Lourdes and his older brother Yuli Gurriel defected from Cuba following the Caribbean Series, chasing the chance to make their own lives and careers in the United States. Now, seven years later, Gurriel has arrived in Arizona, ready to begin this new chapter of his career and life.

“I feel good [here],” said Gurriel. “The stadium is close, my family is good. That’s the main thing. The team has welcomed me, I’ve been here about two weeks and it feels as if I was part of the team before.”

Gurriel and catcher Gabriel Moreno were acquired by the D-backs in a deal with the Blue Jays in exchange for outfielder Daulton Varsho on Dec. 23. Moreno, as Toronto’s No. 1 prospect in 2022, was billed as the headliner of the trade, but Gurriel also represented a beacon of consistency. His career slash line of .285/.329/.468 over five seasons in Toronto turned him into a mainstay in a stacked lineup.

Even as his power numbers dipped (.466 slugging in 2021 vs. .400 last season), his reputation as a tough-at bat made its way across the league. His strikeout percentage dropped (18.9 percent to 16.8), his on-base percentage increased (.319 to .343), and he was in at least the 78th percentile in average exit velocity, hard-hit percentage and strikeout rate. His ability to string together plate appearances is one of numerous qualities that manager Torey Lovullo has seen in the 29-year-old during the early days of Spring Training.

“[Lourdes] is somebody that gives us a little stability from the right side of the batter’s box with a professional at-bat,” said Lovullo. “He’s had some really good years. I know he fought through a hand injury last year that very few knew about. But he continues to work on that approach, keeping it very professional by staying in the middle of the diamond. Those are the things that we like.”

Gurriel possesses an internal motivation to live up to Lovullo’s expectations, obsessed with helping the team in any way possible. His first goal is to hold a spot next to an electric cast of outfielders that includes Corbin Carroll (their No. 1 prospect, per MLB Pipeline) and Alek Thomas. It’s an opportunity that Gurriel relishes, and he's more than prepared to step into a leadership role as the opportunity arises.

“It’s a good thing,” he said, referencing the immense talent that’s produced optimism in Scottsdale early on this spring. “I have had good communication with the rest of the team, with [Evan] Longoria and [Ketel] Marte. The team is in a beautiful spot to be ready to win.”

Every step along the way, Gurriel has strived to make a name for himself. Since he began playing, he’s been followed by the star power of his father, Lourdes and brother, Yuli, both Cuban baseball legends. Family is most important to him, but when he gets on the field, he’s fueled by the urge to carve his own path in baseball.

“It’s something I always wanted and that was always difficult,” he said. “Because it was always, the son of, or the brother of. Now, it’s good to be measured by who you are, what you’ve done, and what you can achieve.”