Palacios prefers playing outfield to climbing a fireman's ladder

Toronto Blue Jays OF Josh Palacios (59) chats with 3B coach Luis Rivera, who complimented Palacios on his hitting. Photo: Steve Nesius/Canadian Press.

March 6, 2021

By Andrew Hendriks

Canadian Baseball Network

While established veterans use spring training as a means of preparing themselves for the upcoming grind, those rising through the minor league ranks are taking advantage of an opportunity to showcase their development in front of a big-league staff.

Josh Palacios is among the latter.

Including a 3-for-3 performance on Friday, Palacios is batting .556 with a team-leading six RBIs in four spring games. All but one of his five hits have gone for extra bases.

“He’s been playing great in the outfield and swinging the bat good,” said Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo in a Zoom call with reporters on Friday. “That’s what spring training is all about. You show what you can do. He had a good off-season; we have to pay attention to what he’s doing.”

A sixth-round draft pick, Palacios has appeared in 349 games since making his pro debut in 2016. He’s slashed a combined .288/.366/.408 over that four-year stretch, making it as high as double-A New Hampshire in 2019.

The 25-year-old spent last summer at Toronto’s alternate training site in Rochester and was rewarded for his efforts by being one of five additions to the Blue Jays’ 40-man roster in November.

Along with being a rising talent in the Blue Jays’ system, it’s worth noting that Palacios holds added value as one of only four left-handed swinging position players on the club’s roster.

Should he continue turning heads the way he has early on this spring, a big-league debut could be on the horizon for the young outfielder.

Adding to his comments on Friday, Montoyo reminded reporters that he played with Palacios’ uncle in winter ball.

Rey Palacios appeared in 101 games and hit .193 with eight extra-base hits through parts of three seasons with the Kansas City Royals. Upon retiring from the game in 1994, he became a firefighter.

“When Palacios hit that triple and got to third base, (Luis) Rivera told him that he hit more than his uncle,” said Montoyo, who said Palacios replied, “I better, because otherwise, I’m going to end up being a fireman.”

SHORT HOPS

_ Blue Jays’ ace Hyun-Jun Ryu made his spring debut on Friday, allowing one hit and striking out two over a pair of innings. Hitting 89.8 on his four-seam fastball, 19 of his 30 pitches were strikes.

_ Batting sixth and playing right field, Randal Grichuk also made his 2021 Grapefruit League debut and knocked a two-run double in his first at-bat. Teoscar Hernandez started as the DH.

_ Tanner Roark gets the ball on Saturday as Toronto squares off against Philadelphia in the second of eight meetings between the two clubs this spring.

-Follow Andrew Hendriks on Twitter (@77hendriks)