Although Gio Urshela has played primarily third base throughout his career, he said he’s prepared to move around with the Angels.
“I’ve been playing a lot of positions the last couple years,” Urshela said on Monday, three days after the Angels acquired him in a trade with the Minnesota Twins. “I think it’s going to be fun for me playing whenever they need me. I’ll be playing shortstop, second base, first base, third base.”
Urshela said he’s only played outfield once, but he’s prepared to do that too.
The Angels have Anthony Rendon to play third. Rendon has missed most of the last two years with injuries. If he gets hurt again in 2023, obviously Urshela would be able to step in and play third, a position where he’s been for 548 of his 600 big league games.
If Rendon is healthy, Urshela will move around the diamond, primarily at the different infield spots, General Manager Perry Minasian said last week. Minasian said he envisions Urshela as an everyday player, even if his position isn’t set.
Although Urshela’s major league experience has been limited at those other spots, he said he’s worked out regularly at different positions for the past few years. He said every winter he works out at shortstop.
Urshela said he was “excited” for the opportunity to join the Angels and be reunited with Manager Phil Nevin, who was the Yankees’ third base coach when Urshela played in New York.
“Phil is a great guy,” Urshela said. “He called me right away when I got traded to the Angels. I’ve known him for the last five years. He’s a good guy for me.”
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Urshela said joining the Angels also allows him to follow in the footsteps of one of his favorite players. Orlando Cabrera, a fellow Colombian, played for the Angels from 2005-07, when Urshela was 14-16 years old.
“He was my role model when I was a little kid, him and (Colombian) Edgar Renteria,” Urshela said. ”I always wanted to be like Orlando or Edgar Renteria.”
Urshela also said he is planning to play for Colombia in the World Baseball Classic. Colombia is in the same pool as the United States, which plays its first-round games March 11-15 in Phoenix.