Jorge Flores Willing to Play Anywhere

March 31, 2014

There’s a major emphasis on size in sports today, but that doesn’t faze Dunedin Blue Jays infielder Jorge Flores one bit. At 5-foot-5 and 160 pounds, he is determined to show everybody that determination and hard work can pay off.

Known as a grinder within the Blue Jays organization, Flores has the ability to play solid defense at either shortstop and second base. The Arizona native takes pride in the defensive side of his game and is always working at improving in the field.

“Shortstop is where I’m most comfortable but I’m decent at second, too. Anywhere the coaches want me to play I’m going to play,” he said. “I feel my defense improved throughout the 2013 season, but I’m always trying to get better at it for sure.

“You can never be too good at defense.”

At the plate, Flores can hit the ball to the gaps surprisingly well given his frame and has a patient approach at the plate. In the end, rather than try and go for a big hit, the 22-year-old is just focused on not recording an out and helping his team.

“At the plate I’m focused at hitting the ball to every field and getting on base to help my teammates,” he said. “I’m not focused at hitting the ball out of the park, but I have decent power for my size. I’m looking to get on base and help any way I can. I’m a grinder player.”

This determination is something Kenny Graham, Flores’s hitting coach in Lansing last season, spoke highly of,  stating every team could use a player like him.

“You look at him initially and you want to judge him right out of the chute because of his size, but he’s a competitor,” stated Graham. “Flores shows up every day and plays very hard. He’s the kind of player you want on your team. Flores grinds at-bats out, helps his teammates in the field, and has a lot of power in his bat for his size. We just want to help him with his consistency and help him become an even better hitter.”

In Lansing, Flores batted .247 with 17 doubles and 18 RBI in 194 at-bats. Earning a promotion to Dunedin in late July, he hit .193 with five doubles and a triple in 57 at-bats. Perhaps the most noticeable stats, though, were his 29 walks to 36 strikeouts in 77 combined games between the two levels.

After staying in shape this past off-season by working out and playing with a team in Mexico over the winter, look for Flores to pick up where he left off in Dunedin this coming season.