Yuli Gurriel will play in Little Havana with the Marlins

March 13, 2023

The Miami Marlins and Cuban free agent, Yulieski Gurriel, reached a Minor League agreement with an invitation to spring training according to journalist Ken Rosenthal (The Athletic).

Gurriel, who is heading into his 39th season, will have, like his younger brother, Lourdes Jr, a new home in 2023 in the best baseball in the world. The veteran infielder will arrive in Miami after seven seasons in the majors, all with the Houston Astros.

Since his debut in the major leagues in 2016 (at age 32), the Olympic champion from Athens 2004 has undoubtedly been an important part of the best successful era in the history of the Texas franchise, two-time World Series champion (2017 and 2022), an American League batting title and Gold Glove (2021) make the Spiritu sanían one of the best first basemen to have left his legacy in Houston. Bagwell, Davis, Berkman himself at times as first base, those are big names! and Yuli Gurriel; not bad at all!

Evaluating Yuli's future at 38-39 years old was somewhat complicated, yet we knew he could find work at the Major League level, after an rWAR of 3.7 in 2021 to a -0.3 the following season, decreasing his production in 2022 with an OPS of 647 (the lowest of his MLB career), the former Yokohama DeNA BayStars of the NPB, showed great recovery in the last postseason contributing to Dusty Baker's first title as manager.

In October, Yuli batted .347 (17-for-49) with 2 HRs (remember that in the 2019 campaign he hit 30+ HRs!) and a BABIP of .326, striking out just once throughout the entire playoff, more than 40 consecutive PAs without strikeouts, ball in play, okay! While it is true that it is a small sample compared to an entire season, Gurriel showed that he wasn't finished and could still contribute at that level.

With American Garret Cooper projected to be the starter at first base in Miami (Yuli will fight for the starting position), the "Pineapple," who would become player No. 11 born in Cuba to wear the Marlins uniform and first since Jorge Soler in 2022 (the first Cuban to arrive at the Marlins; Orestes Destrade in 1993), could be a perfect depth complement. Three-time consecutive Gold Glove finalist!

Let us not overlook that Yuli, despite his "bad year" in 2022 and his home run decline, will arrive in Little Havana after hitting nothing less than 40 doubles in the past season (four fewer than the American League leader, José Ramírez). At the Marlins stadium, the Cuban has only been able to play on three occasions, where he has a lifetime offensive line of .231 (3-for-13), .231, .538 and an OPS of .769, one double, one home run and four RBIs.

Definitely, the move doesn't seem wrong, a right-handed bat like Yuli's—wRC+ 108 vs left-handed pitchers!—and elite defense, could be a positive bet for both sides, plus the LoanDepot Park will be another one with the presence of the Cuban.