Blue Jays' Berrios working on mechanical adjustments after inconsistent season

Coming off a season where inconsistency was the norm, Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Jose Berrios has been working on a number of mechanical changes in recent weeks to get back on track.

Berrios was remarkably steady over his first five full-time seasons in the big leagues. He showed flashes of brilliance last year but was also shelled on a few occasions.

He posted a 12-7 record with 149 strikeouts but his earned-run average (5.23) was his highest since his rookie season in 2016 with Minnesota.

"I think we're in a great spot with where his stuff plays," Blue Jays manager John Schneider said Saturday from the team's spring training site in Dunedin, Fla. "I've said it forever: his track record speaks for itself. We're comfortable and he's comfortable with where he is with everything.

"So just looking forward to a regular year out of him really."

The 28-year-old right-hander has been making daily adjustments at spring training to improve his movement. He's working from the centre of the rubber now, pushing more with his back leg and staying firmer on the glove side while extending his stride.

"I believe in myself," Berrios said. "I'm feeling secure in what I've been doing so far, and I've been feeling pretty [good]. So, I'm comfortable and confident.

"Now I just have to go out there and compete and do my thing."

Berrios, sporting a fresh look with dyed blond hair, arrived in Florida last month to start preparations for a busy pre-season. He's slated to represent Puerto Rico at next month's World Baseball Classic.

The Puerto Rican players dyed their hair blond in 2017 when they reached the WBC final before falling to the United States.

"We started early this year," he said with a smile. "We always do something to create that