4 Reasons Jedd Gyorko Should Start at Second Base for the Padres in 2013

For many San Diego Padre fans, 2013 looks to be an exciting year for the ball club.  Not only do the Padres have an ample supply of young, major league-ready prospects, but they also (for the first time in a long while) have depth at almost every position on the field.  

One position, however, that is still questionable in 2013, is second base. Logan Forsythe and Alexi Amarista both shared the majority of time there last year (after the team released Orlando Hudson in May) and both performed moderately well.  However, in 2013, it looks like the advanced bat of Jedd Gyorko will win the starting job and potentially contend for a National League Rookie of the Year Award.   

Let's take a look at a few ways that Major League Baseball's No. 52 overall prospect deserves to own the starting position at second base, and why he should stay there for many years to come. 

Plain and Simple—Jedd Gyorko Can Hit

Okay, let's face it, if there's one thing the Padres are in desperate need of, it's players that can hit and get on base.  Jedd Gyorko has done just that in his three-year minor league career.

The second half of last season gave Padre fans a glimpse at an offense that was finally starting to make solid contact and, most importantly, drive in runs.  Led by third baseman Chase Headley, the Padres began to gel after the All-Star break, surprising many by finishing with a 42-33 record in the second half of the 2012 season.

Gyorko, who split the 2012 season between Double-A San Antonio and Triple-A Tucson, finished the season with a .311 average, 30 long balls and an even 100 RBI.  The year before, he had a .333 average, 25 home runs and 114 RBI split between Double-A San Antonio and Single-A Lake Elsinore.  

With a solid core of position players relatively unchanged from last season, the addition of Gyorko's bat, should give the Padres another solid, run-producing threat in the middle of their lineup. 

Gyorko Was Originally a Second Baseman

With Chase Headley clearly blocking the path at third base, the Padres were forced to restrategize and began transitioning Gyorko to second in 2012.

In 17 games at Double-A San Antonio and 30 games at Triple-A Tucson, Gyorko did a solid job of manning second base, committing only three errors, turning 31 double plays, all while maintaining a .988 fielding percentage.

Gyorko recently told Bill Center of U-T San Diego, "I enjoy second, it was my original position and I'm excited about the possibility of playing second again."

With an opportunity to take over a position that is in desperate need of a regular presence, Gyorko will for sure do whatever it takes to maintain and secure his place at second base.    

No Pressure—His Teammates Have His Back

Adjusting to life as a full-time major leaguer must be enough pressure for any young ballplayer to deal with (unless of course, your name is Mike Trout).  Not only are there lofty expectations to live up to, but with the constant pressure of playing a 162-game schedule, many rookies struggle in their first full season in the big leagues.

Luckily for Jedd Gyorko, he doesn't have one, but three players who can jump in and fill the gap at second base should he suffer from pressure and/or poor offensive and defensive production.  

After the Padres released the disappointing Orlando Hudson in May, Alexi Amarista and Logan Forsythe did an adequate job of covering second base.  Amarista committed just three errors in 378 innings and Forsythe batted .273 with 26 RBI and 45 runs scored in 315 at-bats. 

And, though it looks like he will be playing mostly shortstop next season, Everth Cabrera is also a very capable option at second base should the team need him to fill in.  

I think it's fair to say, that if Jedd Gyorko struggles at any point next season, the Padres have plenty of options to take the pressure off him and allow him to succeed.  

He's Hungry and Ready to Compete at the Major League Level

There is no one more anxious to play for the Padres next season than Jedd Gyorko.  He wasn't called up last season since the front office wanted him to get more time at second base and to allow his bat to further develop.  That doesn't mean he wasn't disappointed.

“No one wanted me to be called up more than me,” Gyorko recently told Bill Center of U-T San Diego, "I understand why it didn’t happen, but that didn’t make it easier. September was a long month.”

With an opportunity to play every day, Gyorko looks determined and ready to take on his new duties and contribute immediately to a young and exciting San Diego Padres team.