Astros analysis: Third baseman of the future has to be Alex Bregman - Houston Chronicle

But Bregman’s performance - after a 1-for-34 start, he has raised his batting average to .231 - already has begun to force the front office’s hand, first evident when Gurriel appeared in left field during a minor league stint in which he had been expected to play only third base and DH. A month after his celebrated debut, Bregman has yet to start a big league game in left field, appearing in the outfield only once as part of an in-game substitution.

The question, then, is where to play Gurriel, a 15-year veteran of professional baseball in Cuba and Japan who has played third and second base almost exclusively. There is no doubt DH will be a part of his future, but limiting him to that wastes his ability to play the field.

Perhaps a left field/DH combo will be Gurriel’s positional landing spot. First base is another option, but what then of A.J. Reed? Reed has struggled in the majors this season, but 101 at-bats is too small a sample size to write off a player who came into this season regarded as the industry’s best minor league prospect at his position.

Yulieski Gurriel being called up to Astros | MLB.com

A new addition in Houston.

Astros won’t rush Yulieski Gurriel to Majors | astros.com

“We don’t bring guys up unless our coaches and scouts and evaluators tell us their approach is good enough to work at this level, and I think obviously some adjustments have to be made,” Luhnow said. “There’s been a little bit of bad luck, a little bit of anxiousness. Those players are going to be very good Major Leaguers and it’s going to start happening soon. I have no doubt about it. Hopefully it’s this weekend.”

Work visa approved, Astros’ Yulieski Gurriel plays for GCL affiliate - Houston Chronicle

With his work visa approved, Yulieski Gurriel made his organizational and stateside professional debut Saturday afternoon with the Astros’ Gulf Coast League affiliate in Kissimmee, Fla.

Gurriel went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts, two weeks to the day from when the Cuban infielder was introduced in a press conference at Minute Maid Park. The Astros’ $47.5-million man is scheduled to be off Sunday and play again for the GCL club on Monday in the early stages of his tune up for a likely mid-August major league debut.

“I think it’s realistic to expect,” general manager Jeff Luhnow said of a mid-August time frame for Gurriel’s debut. “No earlier than mid-August.”

Astros sign Cuban star Yulieski Gurriel | MLB.com

The Astros and Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel have agreed to a 5-year deal worth $47.5 million, according to industry sources, pending a physical.

Cuban Yulieski Gurriel is an MLB free agent | MLB.com

Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel has been declared a free agent and can sign with any Major League team, a source told MLB.com’s Jesse Sanchez.