Astros' Yulieski Gurriel to play the field this week

Yulieski Gurriel played as the Astros designated hitter in each of the team's three weekend games against the Tampa Bay Rays.

This week against the Oakland Athletics the 32-year-old Cuban will play his first major league game in the field.

"He's going to play third base or left field in the next couple days, maybe as soon as (Monday)," manager A.J. Hinch said on Sunday.

Left field is still new to Gurriel, a veteran of 15 professional seasons in Cuba and Japan who has spent his entire career at third base and second base. He spent about 20 minutes Sunday morning working in left field at Minute Maid Park, fielding balls hit by bench coach Trey Hillman while third-base coach Gary Pettis offered instruction.

Gurriel and rookie outfielder Teoscar Hernandez alternated fielding balls off the wall, turning and throwing to the cutoff man. They also worked on throws to home plate after fielding balls on the bounce in shallow left.

Hinch acknowledged it's a "tough ask" for either Gurriel or Bregman to play left field but one needs to play there to keep both of their bats in the lineup on days Evan Gattis serves as DH. The manager moved Gurriel from sixth to fifth in his batting order Sunday, making for as potent a top five the Astros have had all season.