Mariners’ Heredia Just Happy To Be Playing

SEATTLE—For 25-year-old Cuban center fielder Guillermo Heredia, the transition to pro ball in the U.S. could not be more smooth.

After nearly two years away from organized baseball, and with only a spring training to prepare, Heredia began the season at Double-A Jackson and immediately began to light up Southern League pitchers.

In his first nine games, Heredia hit a torrid .424 with 14 hits in his first 33 at-bats.

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He obviously couldn’t keep up that pace, and SL pitchers have adjusted to Heredia, but through 22 games, the righthanded hitter had batted .288/.358/.363 with three doubles, a homer, eight walks and 14 RBIs.

“I think he showed a little more discipline at the plate the first three weeks,” Jackson manager Daren Brown said, “but he’s starting to get it back.”

The Mariners signed the 5-foot-10, 180- pound Heredia in the early weeks of spring training to a major league contract with a $500,000 bonus. After leaving Cuba in January 2015, he was declared a free agent last July. He had played in only one official game—for Matanzas of Cuba’s Serie Nacional—in the previous two seasons.

The Mariners saw Heredia work out in several showcases before signing him. Scouts indicated that he was a plus defender with speed. Brown has seen that potential.

“He’s shown a little bit of what he can do,” Brown said. “He’s been very solid defensively.”

Questions about Heredia’s ability to handle upper-level pitchers arose during his workouts. He’s seeing different pitches now than he did early in the season.

“They are starting to run fastballs in on him, challenging him,” Brown said. “He needs to make that adjustment. He’s shown the ability to make them.”

Heredia has also shown he can adjust to new surroundings and the new culture. “You can really tell he enjoys playing,” Brown said. “He’s always got a smile on his face. He likes being in the clubhouse.”

MARINADE

• Lefthander Ryan Horstman was promoted from high Class A Bakersfield to Jackson. The reliever dominated in the Cal League, striking out 23 in 14 innings. He went 0-2, 2.63.

• Triple-A Tacoma shortstop Chris Taylor hit safely in 19 of his first 23 games. He hit .333 during that span with 10 doubles, two triples and two home runs.