Jedd Gyorko Shows Defensive Improvement For Padres

Jedd Gyorko had locked up his defense at the second sack. –Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Coming up originally as a third baseman over his first two seasons in the Padres’ minor league system, officials knew Jedd Gyorko’s glove would be a positive compliment to his potent bat. That faith in last year’s #50 prospect according to MLB.com was not shaken early this season as he struggled at his new position up the middle.

Gyorko, with the help of some extra work, has rewarded that faith with a strong bounce-back defensively.

After four errors to start the season, Gyorko has committed just two since April 27th. Though he has cut the errors in half in the season’s second month, he is still well above his pace from a year ago when he didn’t make his sixth error until August 20th.

Though his error pace has him on pace for double digits by season’s end, Gyorko’s track record as a fielder is cause for positivity rather than concern when it comes to the slugging infielder.

Over his four minor league seasons he committed 34 total errors, an average of 8.5 each season. Consider as well that 31 of those errors came at the hot corner where the degree of difficulty is much greater. Coming into the year between the big leagues and the minors Gyorko had committed 7 errors in 164 games as a second baseman. That puts him at a pace a shade under 7 for the 162 game season at hand.

With nine hits over his last 11 games, perhaps as his bat heats up,  Jedd Gyorko’s  glove will continue to stay hot at second base.