Happy Wanderer : Gutierrez Settles Into Valuable Utility Role for Birmingham

VAN NUYS — Francisco Gutierrez is here, there and everywhere for the Birmingham High baseball team this season.

Gutierrez, a 5-foot-7 senior, has played every position except pitcher and bats anywhere from second to ninth in the Braves’ lineup.

After batting .193 last year, Gutierrez has emerged as a catalyst at the plate and around the diamond since settling into his role as a utility player.

Gutierrez ranks second on the team with a .408 batting average and has made only one error in 62 chances for Birmingham (14-13, 6-7 in the Northwest Valley Conference).

“Frankie is an extremely hard worker and he has a great knowledge of the game,” Birmingham Coach Rick Weber said. “He’s a true utility player. You put him anywhere in the field and he looks like he’s been playing there the whole season.”

Gutierrez had three assists Tuesday while playing second base and was one for three in an 8-0 loss at Chatsworth.

“Since I was in Little League, I’ve just signed on and played everywhere,” Gutierrez said. “I don’t really have a favorite position--maybe second base because I like turning double plays. But I like to play every position. It’s exciting to me.”

Gutierrez divides most of his playing time between second base and right field. His position is dictated by who’s pitching for the Braves.

Early each week, Gutierrez spends practice fielding ground balls. Later in the week, he shags flies. In between, he sharpens his batting eye.

Last season, Gutierrez struck out frequently and had only one extra-base hit. This year, Gutierrez leads the Braves with 29 hits, including five doubles, and has driven in 17 runs, second-most on the team.

“It’s just happened for me this season,” Gutierrez said. “I feel like a totally different player.”

His numbers certainly are different, but it’s on defense where he’s made the most impact.

“It’s not out of his desire to play everywhere,” Weber said. “It’s more because of our needs.”

Gutierrez is one of only two Birmingham players to play multiple positions this season. He has played as many as three positions in a game on several occasions.

During a tournament in Las Vegas in March, Gutierrez played right field and left field in the first game of a doubleheader against Olympus of Washington.

In the second game, Gutierrez moved from right field to second base before donning catcher’s gear in the fourth inning.

Facundo Barrera, the Braves’ starting catcher, was fatigued in 100-plus-degree heat.

“I kinda looked around and said, ‘Who can catch?’ ” Weber said. “He was the first to put up his hand.”

Said Gutierrez: “I’ve caught before. It wasn’t anything new to me.”

Neither, he says, is pitching. Gutierrez, in fact, has begun to lobby for a chance to take the mound.

“If they give me a chance, I will,” Gutierrez said. “I can, you know. But I don’t think I ever will. We’re pretty deep in our pitching.”