This change makes Yankees think Gio Urshela is for real - NJ.com

NEW YORK — Gio Urshela’s production has forced the Yankees to keep him around.

The change he’s made might extend the third baseman’s stay indefinitely.

Primary hitting coach Marcus Thames said that Urshela’s improved pitch selection and a change in his stance have helped him to surprise output — and a chance to show general manager Brian Cashman he deserves to stick, even with Miguel Andujar returning from the injured list on Saturday.

Urshela, known forever for his glove, has hit .338 with one homer and six RBI and a .898 OPS in 23 games. Before this season, he’d been an up-and-down player for parts of three big-league seasons with the Indians and the Blue Jays.

“His work has been good, consistent,” Thames said Friday. “He tries not to do to much, stay in the big part of the field and give himself a chance. When he’s doing that, he’s not chasing as much, and he can see the baseball better. He’s not missing it right now. He’s getting it on the barrel and hopefully he can keep it going.”

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Thames said he started noticing something different about Urshela late last season in video from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

“In spring training, he had some really good at-bats,” Thames said. “Since last year when we got him, he really focused on staying in his legs a little bit more. He did that work with (hitting coach) Phil Plantier at Triple-A and he brought it into winter ball and into the spring. He hasn’t skipped a beat, man. And he plays a hell of a third base. What we’re getting out of the bat right now is great.

“When I saw him in spring training, he hit a couple long home runs, but his BP is gap-to-gap and I never really saw it like that. You can hear that. It’s a different sound.”

Sounds sustainable … right?

“I hope so,” Thames said. “His work is solid. His BP is solid. He knows what the pitcher is trying to do to him. You put that all in one basket, he’s been pretty good so far.”

Brendan Kuty may be reached at bkuty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BrendanKutyNJ. Find NJ.com Yankees on Facebook.

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https://www.nj.com/yankees/2019/05/this-change-makes-yankees-think-gio-urshela-is-for-real.html

2019-05-04 15:53:00Z
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