Gomes eager to carry banner for Brazil

With a population of nearly 200 million, Brazil is the largest country in South America and fifth largest in the world.

The soccer-loving nation has yet to produce a major league baseball player, but 51s catcher/infielder Yan Gomes is on track to become the first.

"He could go right now to the big leagues and catch and do a fine job," Las Vegas manager Marty Brown said. "Offensively, we don't know what he'd do at that level."

The 24-year-old Gomes - who was born and raised in Sao Paulo, until he was 12, when his family moved to Miami - is excelling at the plate early in his first full Triple-A season, batting .351 (20-for-57) with 10 RBIs.

Gomes had four straight multiple-hit games before settling for an RBI double in five at-bats in Friday's 10-2 loss at Salt Lake.

He did not play in a 9-8, 10-inning victory over Colorado Springs (10-7) on Saturday at Cashman Field after starting 14 of the first 16 games for the 51s (5-12).

"Getting to play every day is definitely a good thing," Gomes said. "Staying more relaxed and seeing more consistent at-bats now is helping me out."

A backup catcher for the vast majority of his first three years in the Toronto Blue Jays organization, the versatile Gomes has seen action at three positions this season - starting six games at third base, five at catcher and three at first.

"I've always liked to play different positions. It's definitely something I see in the future for me," said Gomes, who played at every infield spot except shortstop at the University of Tennessee, where he was a freshman All-American and backed up current Blue Jays catcher J.P. Arencibia for a year.

"Catching is my No. 1, but if I end up making it to the big leagues as a third baseman or first baseman, I'm all for it," he said.

Toronto's 10th-round draft pick in 2009, Gomes opened some eyes this year in spring training, batting .333 (13-for-39) with a home run and nine RBIs.

"He made a very good impression on (Blue Jays manager) John Farrell and the major league staff," Brown said. "They really liked the way he caught and wanted to figure out a way to get him at-bats at this level."

With top prospect Travis d'Arnaud getting the majority of starts at catcher for the 51s, Gomes has been bouncing around the field.

"He's a really versatile, good athlete and he's really, for the first time, getting the chance to play pretty much every day at some position," Brown said. "He has the ability - the way he throws and the way he catches - to possibly be an everyday guy (in the majors). It depends how far his bat takes him."

Gomes was introduced to baseball in Brazil by a Cuban coach his father met at a market in Sao Paulo.

"I played soccer, but I started seeing I was pretty good in baseball and decided to stick with it," he said.

After honing his skills on the equivalent of a club team from Sao Paulo, Gomes represented his country in a world tournament shortly before his family joined his uncle in Miami.

"The level of baseball in Brazil was pretty high because of the way we competed," he said. "It wasn't a hobby for everybody. Either you wanted to play (seriously) or you didn't play."

While Gomes guns for the majors this season, he's equally excited about the offseason, when he'll try to help Brazil qualify for its inaugural berth in the World Baseball Classic.

"That would probably be the biggest thing I've done," he said. "Triple A is awesome, but to represent Brazil in anything would be an absolute honor."

Contact reporter Todd Dewey at tdewey@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0354.