What makes Blue Jays’ Andres Gimenez a premier defender

DUNEDIN, Fla. — When Andres Gimenez is speaking about defence, you just have to stand back and listen. Toronto Blue Jays infield instructor Carlos Febles recently found himself in that position. 

Gimenez, the team’s new second baseman, had been watching Davis Schneider go about his pre-game infield work at TD Ballpark one morning this week and picked up on something. 

He asked Febles if it was OK to share his thoughts and, once he received the go-ahead from the coach, went about with his own demonstrative instruction to Schneider on how to turn a double play. 

Standing around second base, Gimenez felt that his teammate needed to build some more momentum toward the bag. Footwork is essential here — you never want to sit back on your heels and remain stagnant, according to Gimenez. If Schneider was nimble, he’d be better set up to turn two. 

“His willingness to help others got my attention,” Febles says, acknowledging that the defensive whiz is almost like a second coach.

“It makes it easier for me,” adds Febles with a grin. 

Gimenez, acquired by the Blue Jays in a December trade with Cleveland, has a lauded reputation with the glove. He’s widely regarded as the best defensive infielder in the sport and has the hardware to support that — he’s collected three Gold Gloves and one Platinum Glove award over his five-year career. 

You’ve probably heard that countless times, though. Everyone knows he’s a good defender, but what exactly does that mean and what makes him so different? Why is Gimenez already worshipped as a defensive guru at just 26 years old?

Turns out those in Blue Jays camp are quickly finding out the answers to those questions. 

Gimenez was born and raised in Barquisimeto, a city in northwestern Venezuela. His favourite player growing up was Omar Vizquel, the slick-fielding shortstop who hailed from the capital city of Caracas, which is about a five-hour drive from Barquisimeto.

By the time Gimenez had developed passion for baseball as a young boy, Vizquel was at the tail end of an impressive career that saw him amass 11 Gold Gloves. Gimenez would frequently scour YouTube to find highlight videos of Vizquel but those were rare since Vizquel’s best work came during his time with Cleveland in the mid-1990s, long before the video platform existed. 

“There wasn’t much on YouTube, but I tried,” Gimenez says. 

Fast forward a few years and his own baseball talent landed him in the New York Mets organization, which signed Gimenez as an amateur free agent in 2015. It was during those early days in pro ball when he took his defensive prowess to the next level. 

During the 2016 campaign Gimenez broke the pinkie on his right hand sliding into second base and wasn’t able to throw. So, he reported to the organization’s Fall instructional league in Port St. Lucie, Fla., and did nothing but field ground balls. 

“Everything changed after that,” says Gimenez. 

He showed up each day with a glove on his left hand and the pinkie on his other hand wrapped. Working with coaches David Davalillo and Rafael Landestoy, he diligently focused on his technique and footwork while scooping grounders. He did this over and over again. The process helped to build a foundation for Gimenez and planted the seeds that would sprout when he arrived in the majors. 

Gimenez was traded to Cleveland in the 2021 deal that sent Francisco Lindor to New York and over the next four campaigns produced more outs above average (50) than any other second baseman in the sport. 

There was a play early in Monday’s Grapefruit League game that Gimenez actually didn’t make. And yet, it still managed to impress Febles. 

Astros outfielder Jacob Melton hit a soft roller to second that Gimenez charged in toward; he scooped the ball on the run and quickly fired off a throw to first, but it wasn’t in time to nab Melton.

When the inning ended and Gimenez met Febles in the dugout, he told the coach, “I don’t want you to worry about this. That’s not gonna happen again. I didn’t know the guy.”

“Do I look worried?” Febles responded. 

The instance highlighted one of Gimenez’s most impressive skills, according to the coach. He’s got a photographic memory and possesses a deep mental database of hitters’ tendencies. 

Gimenez remembers if a specific opponent has trouble pulling the ball, for example, or if he’s fast runner down the line. In turn, he’ll use that information to perfectly position himself. 

“He remembers everything, all the players,” says Febles. “He’ll ask me, ‘This is the guy who was with the Brewers, right?’ I say, ‘Yes,’ and he’s like, ‘Okay, I know him, I remember.'”

Gimenez pairs that high IQ with flawless technique. Watching him field ground balls is like observing ballet. He possesses an impeccable first step and his range is unmatched. 

“He’s got a great internal clock,” says Blue Jays third baseball Ernie Clement. “I would say he’s got probably one of the best in the game [at that]. He’ll make a play, take his time and then, without looking, get the runner by a step. 

“There’s so much you can learn just from watching him.”

Teammates can do more than simply watch him, though, as they’re realizing Gimenez is an excellent communicator. And that’s not just limited to during games. 

Schneider walked away impressed after he received the recent tutorial at second base. 

“There are guys who don’t know how to talk to you but he’s such a nice guy,” Schneider says. “He knows how to talk and knows how to communicate.”

Schneider likens Gimenez to former Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier in that regard. They will both explain their method and then offer reasoning for the way they do it that way. They also speak with authority and confidence without preaching. 

Gimenez, like Kiermaier, who’s among the best defensive outfielders of his generation, has a softness in how he relays instruction and will express thoughts with the understanding that the advice simply might not work for another player. 

As well, sometimes there’s a need to read between the lines and ease a teammate’s mind. 

Blue Jays infielder Leo Jimenez recently approached Gimenez to chat about rundowns. Jimenez wanted to know how to better anticipate such situations and where he should position himself when runners are in motion. 

However, every rundown is different and Jimenez soon understood that he was overthinking.

“He just offered the simplest answer ever,” Jimenez says. “He is like, ‘Hey, man, let things happen. You don’t have to even prepare for that. You get the ball then [find] the runner. That’s all you need to do. Don’t stress about it. Just let it happen.’” 

Febles knows how important it can be to have a player who can act almost like a member of the coaching staff. During his time in the Red Sox organization, first baseman Mitch Moreland filled that role. 

There are times when a player needs to hear something but it might ultimately land better coming from a teammate rather than a coach. Febles would turn to Moreland in such scenarios to deliver the message. 

Gimenez looks like he’s on the way to becoming that confidant for Febles, who admits he’s already learned some things about defence from his new infielder.  

“It’s been fun to be around him and I’m looking forward to spending this season with him,” says Febles. “He sees things differently than other people. That’s why he’s so good.”