At 40 years old, Yuli Gurriel has a new opportunity to play in the Major Leagues. In his debut this Sunday against his former team, the Houston Astros he drove in a run. Before that game, Gurriel had a to speak with Javier González of our sister page Pelota Cubana about various topics.
“I am an athlete who takes good care of himself, I live for baseball. On the physical side, I have always focused on taking care of myself that’s why I’m in such good shape despite being over four decades old,” said Yuli in his first words as a player for the Kansas City Royals.
“It is very difficult to be in the minors after spending my entire career in the majors, but at no time did I lose motivation. I always stayed focused on doing well. The main thing is to enjoy the game, which is what I have done all my life,” he said about his time this year at Triple-A with Atlanta.
“The goal of being back here on the grand stage and with a team that is going to compete for the playoffs is a blessing,” said the veteran who dreams of contributing his experience in the lockeroom to a group of young players poised to make a playoff run .
“I really had no idea about this. I found out at four in the afternoon and I didn’t think I would be here today. It is an excellent team that has had a solid group players with a lot of talent and this is the year they were waiting to show how much they have matured as a team,” said Gurriel about the Kansas City Royal’s season.
Over his nine-year career on the grand stage he hits .281 with 98 homeruns, 463 runs batted in and slashes. 326/.440/.726. Gurriel looks to be a veteran presence to augment a Royals team looking to make the playoffs.