Efren Navarro: As a kid, I told myself either I'm playing 1B, or pitching
Efren Navarro was stuck.
The first baseman had spent more six seasons in the minor leagues and he was staring down the barrel of his seventh. With a career batting average of .312 after three seasons in triple-A and a career season at Triple-A Salt Lake in which he posted splits of .326/.404/.454 with 81 RBI, it was clear that he was knocking at the door of the big leagues.
He was a great story: The Lynwood native was drafted in a round that doesn't even exist anymore. One of the final five drafted in the 50th round in 2007, he was a player that no one expected to make it past single-A. Yet here was, ready for the big leagues.
But he was stuck. And it wasn't a platoon he was stuck behind, it was a future hall-of-famer. C.J. Cron was also developing into a power-hitting first baseman. And while Navarro's numbers were exceptionally strong, his stats were merely average. And power always wins.
So, in the winter of 2014, he made a decision: He would go down to Mexico for winter ball and learn to play outfield.
"I'm happy that they gave me a shot," he said. "They wanted me as a first baseman, but I went in there and said, 'No, I want to play outfield.' So they said, 'Sure, go in there and play left.'"
Back home, he did offseason workouts with Ken Landreaux, a former Angel and Dodger who now works with the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton. He trained with fungoes and did football drills with a jugs machine.
Finally, he was called up for more than just a cup of coffee in 2014. Although he spelled Pujols at first and saw a fair amount of at-bats as a pinch-hitter, Navarro made 19 starts in left field and four in right, totaling 27 games in the outfield with only a single error.
Now, with the Angels still looking for their full-time left fielder and his hot bat, Navarro has staked a claim to a regular spot.
"He's earned more playing time, for sure," said manager Mike Scioscia. "I think Efren has worked his way into a guy that can play both corners and give you a solid look at either corner on the defensive side."
This was never a move he had anticipated. Navarro learned to play first base from his older sister, Guadalupe, a former Long Beach State and professional softball player, and had a glove so good his teammates growing up called it "The Witch", claiming it had voodoo magic.
"I never pictured myself playing outfield in the big leagues," he said. "As a kid, I told myself either I'm playing first, or I'm pitching. But it never crossed my mind that I would become an outfielder."
But then one day in Toronto, he found himself roaming foreign territory.
"My first game up here, I was playing in Toronto and I remember being like, 'Whoa, I'm here, playing outfield,'" he said. "I was a little nervous."
The nerves have given way to a budding confidence. He's still working on reading the bat come off the ball and works with bench coach Dino Ebel on scouting reports, but his production at the plate has only served to bolster his value in the outfield.
Navarro might have to figure out a new nickname for the outfield glove since The Witch doesn't seem applicable anymore. But Big League Glove sure does have a nice ring to it.
"I feel like if I don't make that move, I'd probably be back in triple-A," he said. "The reason I did it was obviously Albert Pujols and C.J. Cron. I talked to my agent and was like, 'Hey, let's play some outfield. See where it leads.' And it rejuvenated my career."
