Astros first baseman Yuli Gurriel, whose family is among Cuba's foremost baseball clans, tied Hall of Famer Tony Pérez for the most World Series hits among players born on the Caribbean island.PHILADELPHIA — Yuli Gurriel is perhaps nearing the end of a distinguished run with the Astros, as his contract is up this season.
If this seventh season with the Astros indeed turns out to be the end of his Houston run, it will include ending on a historic note. With his two hits in Game 1 of the World Series, the 38-year-old Gurriel tied a fellow first baseman, Hall of Famer Tony Pérez, for the most hits in the Fall Classic by a Cuban-born player with 23.“That’s one that I have to ask my dad about,” Eduardo Pérez said. “But I know he’s watching and listening.
“I just hope he continues to rake because I enjoy watching Yuli Gurriel play the game and how he plays his defense at first base and the way he’ll sacrifice himself and hit the ball the other way to move a runner or drive in a runner. Anytime you can see baseball played as a team-type player, you root for those guys.”
Tony Pérez, who played in four World Series with the Reds and one with the Phillies , amassed his 23 hits in 27 games. Gurriel, in the midst of his fourth World Series , tied the mark in 21 games.