CLEARWATER, Fla. — As Pat Gillick sat on the observation deck high above third base watching the Phillies play the Toronto Blue Jays at Bright House Field on Tuesday, he focused for a moment on Peter Bourjos.
Gillick has been watching the 28-year-old outfielder play for a long time.
Like almost 25 years.
Gillick made his name in baseball by building the expansion Toronto Blue Jays into two-time World Series champions. Bourjos’ father, Chris, worked for Gillick’s Jays as a scout after his own playing days were over. (Chris Bourjos played in the majors with the San Francisco Giants.)
Gillick, 78, is known for his keen memory. As he watched the young Bourjos play for the Phillies on Tuesday, he recalled visiting the Bourjos family home near Chicago when Peter was a young child.
“I remember sitting on the floor with him and playing a game, a kid’s game,” Gillick said. “He was about four years old. Ask him if he remembers.”
Sure enough, Peter Bourjos remembered.
“I think it was Chutes and Ladders,” he said with a laugh. “We played a lot of different games when people came over.”
As Bourjos grew, Gillick kept watching him play.
Not Chutes and Ladders. Baseball.
“His dad asked me to take a look at him when he was in high school,” Gillick said. “I was very impressed. He could run and throw. The question was how far would the bat take him.”
Years later, that is still the question with Bourjos.
He broke into the majors with the Los Angeles Angels in 2010. A year later, at age 24, he hit .271 with 26 doubles, 11 triples, 12 homers and 22 stolen bases as a regular with the Angels in 2011. Always a speedster, he was a standout in center field, one of the best in the game.
Bourjos was not able to maintain that level of production in subsequent seasons in Anaheim. He was inconsistent at the plate. He struggled with some injuries. And Mike Trout came along. 'Nuf said there.
Bourjos was dealt to St. Louis. More injury troubles — he required hip surgery after the 2014 season — not enough offense and the emergence of some young outfielders landed him on the waiver wire last fall.
The Phillies, a rebuilding club that could afford to take a chance on a castoff that they believed still had upside, quickly claimed Bourjos on waivers.
It was no surprise.
Matt Klentak, the new Phillies general manager, was a member of the Angels’ front office when Bourjos was there. Even before Klentak took over, the Phillies had interest in Bourjos.
"Our scouts always liked him," Gillick said.
Indeed, Bourjos would have been part of the return if the Phillies had traded Cole Hamels to the Angels in July 2012. Instead, the Phillies signed Hamels to a contract extension.
“I knew I was on waivers and when Matt called me, I wasn’t surprised,” said Bourjos, who turns 29 later this month. “There had been rumors about the Phillies before.”
Manager Pete Mackanin isn’t sure whether Bourjos will play left field or center field when the season starts. Though Bourjos has never played left field in the majors, he can play the position. In fact, he played there Tuesday and had a base hit in the Phillies’ 5-3 loss to Toronto (see story). Going to left field would allow Odubel Herrera to play center, but that is not set in stone. Herrera could end up in left and Bourjos in center. It will all shake out over the next month.
“Wherever they put me is fine,” Bourjos said. “The biggest thing is just getting consistent at-bats.”
As happy as he is to have the opportunity to show he can be a regular again, Bourjos knows he must capitalize on that opportunity if it is going to last. He has to hit and improve his on-base skills. He had a .292 on-base percentage the last two seasons in St. Louis.
“I’m excited to have the opportunity to play,” Bourjos said. “The last few years, I haven’t had it.
“But to an extent this is really no different than in other years. I’ve always had to fight for a job. I have to put together good at-bats and show 2011 wasn’t a fluke.”