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‘It’s actually very thrilling to be again, to really feel the heat of the gang and the joy on the ballpark,’ the left fielder says
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Early in his profession, Toronto Blue Jays left fielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. discovered a technique to put his lifelong love of video video games to work through the use of early variations of MLB The Present to scout opposing pitchers.
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“My first season, I didn’t have a variety of expertise within the video room and discovering details about upcoming pitchers,” Gurriel says by means of a translator on a video name in the course of the workforce’s latest prolonged homestand. “However I informed my teammates that I knew what pitches sure pitchers would throw and they’d ask me how I knew and it was from watching them on (MLB The Present).”
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Gurriel, 28, is the workforce’s greatest gamer and for the reason that launch of MLB The Present 22 final month, the batter has been getting his reps in taking part in the baseball simulation on PlayStation 5 (it’s also accessible on Xbox and Nintendo Change). Since its launch in 2006, The Present has turn into the gold normal in baseball online game excellence.
Thus far, he’s loved getting the prospect to launch bombs as Jays phenom Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and has been making an attempt — unsuccessfully — to get hits off of one of many workforce’s aces, Jose Berrios.
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“They’re all exhausting,” Gurriel says of the crew’s pitching workers, “however Berrios has a variety of good things. He’s the toughest.”
The younger Cuban participant additionally marvelled at little particulars the sport has managed to nail down, together with his personal spiky coiffure that has been likened to a pineapple.
“They paid shut consideration to element — particularly on my headband,” Gurriel says grinning. “But it surely’s a dream come true to see myself within the recreation.”
There aren’t many surprises within the recreation’s participant rankings (Vlad Jr. comes out on prime). However if you’re searching for underrated gems, Gurriel encourages avid gamers to have a look at submarine side-armer Adam Cimber.
“He had a fairly good season final yr,” Gurriel says. “I truly assume he’s underrated within the recreation.”
New options for this yr’s version, which boasts American League MVP slugger/pitcher Shohei Ohtani on the quilt, embody issue modes tailor-made to avid gamers with totally different ability ranges, new gameplay mechanics, enhanced pinpoint pitching accuracy and new commentators.
Leaping off from final yr, avid gamers can proceed as two-way gamers within the “Street to the Present” mode, following within the footsteps of Ohtani, create their very own stadiums and play in outdated ballparks.
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Thus far, Gurriel has most popular to play The Present throughout the confines of Yankee Stadium in New York.
“Within the recreation, it’s simpler to hit homers there,” he says.
Followers also can take part in a “Battle Royale” mode doing head-to-head in opposition to different avid gamers.
Like previous editions, MLB The Present 22 is introducing new legends giving followers an opportunity to go well with up as retired baseball gamers. This yr’s additions embody Purple Sox slugger Mike Napoli, Yankees hurler Randy Johnson and former Jays outfielder Curtis Granderson.
Gurriel namechecks the Twins’ Justin Morneau and Minnesota’s outdated Metrodome as two of his favorite throwback experiences when plugging into The Present.
The simulation has a variety of similarities to the experiences the squad has on the sphere, together with the AL East rivalries the workforce has with different golf equipment.
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After taking three of 4 in opposition to the Purple Sox final week, Gurriel says wins in opposition to Boston and New York are particularly candy.
“It’s at all times nice to win, however the truth that we’ve a rivalry with the Purple Sox and Yankees make these probably the most pleasant wins.”
Along with his brother Yuli on the town final weekend with the Houston Astros, Gurriel acquired an up-close expertise with the one different workforce he likes to tinker with within the recreation.
“I’ve tried to see what I might appear to be taking part in alongside my brother in Houston, so I made myself play with the Astros,” he admits with a sheepish grin. “We did look good, that’s for positive.”
However maybe the perfect a part of the sport — each on the sphere and within the digital world — is the way it faithfully recreates Rogers Centre, a ballpark Gurriel says is his favorite to play in.
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Final season, the Jays break up time between Dunedin and Buffalo earlier than making their method again to Toronto on the finish of July. In 2020, the workforce spent a COVID-shortened season solely in Buffalo.
“However I like taking part in right here,” Gurriel says. “It’s actually very thrilling to be again, to really feel the heat of the gang and the joy on the ballpark.”
Because the Jays set their sights on significant post-season October video games, that home-field benefit will make all of the distinction, he says.
“That’s one thing that’s going to actually assist us this season.”
MLB The Present 22 is on the market now on PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo Change.
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