Blue Jays call up Gurriel Jr., option Mayza and Ngoepe

Blue Jays analyst Mike Wilner joins the Jeff Blair Show to discuss the news that the Blue Jays are set to call up prospect Lourdes Gurriel Jr., and give him a real shot to prove he belongs with the big club.

NEW YORK – Not only is Teoscar Hernández staying put, but infield prospect Lourdes Gurriel Jr., is joining him as the Toronto Blue Jays juggle their roster with Kendrys Morales coming off the disabled list Friday.

Utility infielder Gift Ngoepe and left-hander Tim Mayza have been optioned to triple-A Buffalo to make room.

Hernandez, recalled last week when Josh Donaldson was placed on the disabled list, has nine hits, five of them for extra bases, in five games since being recalled.

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Adding Gurriel, mashing the ball at double-A New Hampshire with a .347/.382/.510 slash line through 12 games, gives Gibbons the potential for more production in the infield when either second baseman Devon Travis or shortstop Aledmys Diaz need a day off.

Ngoepe went 1-for-18 with a walk in 12 strikeouts over 12 games.

Gurriel, 24, signed a $22-million, seven-year deal in November 2016 and was ranked by Baseball America as the club’s fifth best prospect in 2018. John Gibbons has confirmed he will start at second base Friday against the New York Yankees.

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