Blue Jays giving Hechavarria reps at second

DUNEDIN, Fla. — The Toronto Blue Jays are planning to give Adeiny Hechavarria some work at second base during spring training to prepare the touted shortstop prospect in case an injury to Kelly Johnson creates a need there.

Manager John Farrell made the surprise revelation Wednesday, after earlier in the day conducting his annual pre-season interview with the young Cuban.

With shortstop Yunel Escobar signed through the 2013 season at US$5-million per, and two club options beyond that, Hechavarria’s path to the majors seems to be blocked, but the Blue Jays have long ruled out moving him to second base permanently.

Although Johnson is eligible for free agency after the season, Farrell insisted that little beyond emergency planning should be read into the move.

“That doesn’t mean we’re looking to move him,” Farrell said. “But in the event that we need some flexibility, he’s our premier defender in the minor-leagues, so we’re going to get him some reps at second base, but we still view him clearly as a long-term and elite kind of shortstop.

“If there was a six-week, or two-month injury, it’s not a long-term positional switch for him but he would be a clear-cut candidate.”

Hechavarria, who has two years remaining on his US$10-million, four-year deal, is described by scouts as a brilliant and gifted defender with a bat that could go either way.

Soon to turn 23 — his birthday is Apr. 15 — he’s slated to start the season with triple-A Las Vegas but is positioned for a call up should either Escobar or Johnson go down.

Hechavarria last played second at age 15, but the goal is to get him into some spring games this year.

He won’t have any problems playing in Canada this season as his naturalization process with U.S. authorities has progressed to the point where he can travel abroad.

Hechavarria’s physical maturation has progressed as well.

“He just looks stronger and throwing batting practice the other day, you get that vision of him from the mound and see a fairly simple swing, but this year’s there’s a little more authority than a year ago,” said Farrell. “Even meeting with him (Wednesday), he talked about the difference his off-season this year had compared to last year leading up to spring training.”

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DRABEK ON: Kyle Drabek continues to show a more controlled delivery this spring, and is displaying an ability to repeat his motion on the mound without the parallel yellow lines framing the mound he’s been using in bullpen sessions.

“There’s a lot of relevance in that,” Farrell explained after Drabek’s latest live batting practice session Wednesday. “It’s a controlled setting, but he’s seeing a hitter, he’s executing all types of pitches that he has, and ultimately it will be the focus on executing pitches rather than thinking so much about his delivery, which is the natural progression.

“It’s first steps first, and he’s doing just that.”

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SHORT HOPS: Carlos Villanueva threw 15 pitches off a mound Wednesday and reported that his hand “felt as close to normal as I’ve felt” since problems with his right hand started last weekend. While his hand remains a little cold, the pain is gone and barring any setbacks on Thursday, he’ll throw a full bullpen Friday and progress to batting practice Sunday. … Blue Jays pitchers enjoy a no-throw day Thursday ahead of their intra-quad game Friday. Brett Cecil will start Saturday’s Grapefruit League opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and will be followed in the rotation by Henderson Alvarez, Drew Hutchison, Ricky Romero, Brandon Morrow. Dustin McGowan, who is being given some extra rest, will slot back in place of Hutchison in the rotation’s next turn.