Padres Editorial: Padres Invested in Jedd Gyorko Long-term

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Courtesy: Getty Images
Courtesy: Getty Images

The San Diego Padres are struggling a little bit offensively this season so far, and nobody has struggled more than Jedd Gyorko. The season is extremely young and it only takes one game for everyone to be all aboard the Jedd Gyorko train. The Padres however have to be a bit concerned about that downward trend in which Gyorko is headed. Since his 2013 rookie year, Gyorko has gone south struggling to hit over .200. For a once promising young talent, that is very troubling.

Jedd Gyorko slugged 23 home runs in 2013 as a rookie, and Padres G.M. Josh Byrnes immediately rewarded him with a 6-year $35 million dollar deal. If Gyorko would have built on that rookie year and developed a better eye at the plate, then the deal would be justified. At this point its hard to see him developing unless he changes his approach at the plate.

A lifetime career batting line of .230/.291/.392 is horrible. Jedd Gyorko has amassed 899 at bats thus far, and is close to reaching that magic number of 1,250 at bats. It is said that once a player totals that number of plate appearances, you have a great idea of who they are. There are obvious exceptions to that rule, but in most cases the rule proves to be true.

Jedd Gyorko in the minor leagues produced some nice seasons for the Padres. In 2011 as a 22-year old he hit 30 homer runs and drove in 136 runs in 158 games and 647 at bats. He also hit .345 and had an on base percentage of .412. Those totals are including the Arizona Fall League. The following season he hit .311 in AA and AAA while smacking 30 homers and driving in 100 runs. Gyorko has the potential, but is really pressing at the plate currently.

There is a big difference between AAA pitching and the big leagues, and some players just can’t make the jump. If the Padres were not invested so much in Gyorko, I would imagine he would be platooned or even be sent down. They are invested in him, and he will play as long as he is healthy. A.J. Preller is surely shopping the second baseman in an effort to rid himself of the salary and also open a spot for Spengenberg or Solarte or anyone else Preller covets.

Twitterverse is calling for Jedd Gyorko’s head. His double plays in a completely untimely manner are just brutal to watch. The boos are ringing out at Petco Park for Gyorko, and it will be that way until he produces. With Cory Spangenberg and Yangervis Solarte both capitalizing in every opportunity they get, the pressure just keeps getting tighter on Gyorko. Bud Black has no time to wait for his slugging second baseman to work his way out of his funk. If a change has to be made, then he will do it.

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