TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. circled the bases and made his trademark shush sign near third base after launching a ball into the other team’s bullpen for his 23rd home run of the year. Once he touched home plate, he pointed directly up to his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., who was visiting, at the Rogers Centre, at the suite level.
Remarkably, this is the first time the younger Guerrero has hit a home run in a regular season game when his dad has been present in the six years he has played for the Toronto Blue Jays. Guerrero claimed that although he knew it was gone right away, he did not realize it until he crossed home plate, saying to himself, “Wow, finally (my dad) saw one.”
HE CANNOT BE STOPPED 💥 #PLAKATA pic.twitter.com/JlzXYXrUsY
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) August 9, 2024
This Blue Jays season has just not been much to be happy about; Blue Jays president Mark Shapiro called it “bitterly disappointing” on Wednesday. Top of the short list of encouraging tales, though, is Guerrero’s ascent back to the top of the game’s MVP-caliber standings, which has at least given supporters something to look forward to during a disappointing season.
Guerrero has not hit at this kind of pace for a sustained length of time since 2021, when he came in second place behind Shohei Ohtani in the American League Most Valuable Player vote. With 23 home runs and 76 RBIs through 115 games, the first baseman is slashing.321/.394/.551.
Guerrero went 3-for-4 on Thursday, one hit shy of hitting for the cycle, and extended his hit streak to 20 games, the longest active run in the majors, against the Baltimore Orioles (7-6). In addition, he joins former second baseman Dámaso García as the only players in franchise history to have multiple 20-game hitting streaks. (Guerrero’s hit streak spanned 22 games, from July 15, to August 13, 2022.)
Guerrero has hit 37 home runs, 10 doubles, 22 RBI, 23 runs scored, 1.096 SLG, and 1.671 OPS during his 20-game hit streak, which started on July 14.
While Guerrero’s 20-game hitting streak is impressive in and of itself, Blue Jays manager John Schneider has been more struck by the impact of his hits.
“The fact that he’s impacting the ball the way he is multiple times each night just shows you how good he is,” Schneider said. “And I think just how locked in he is with what he’s doing.”
Guerrero, for his part, stated that during this run, he has been particularly happy with his strategy at the plate.
“Every time I go to the home plate, I have a plan and until I get what I want to do, I’m not going to get out of my plan,” Guerrero said through team interpreter Hector Lebron. “I’m very proud of that because I’m sticking with my plan every single at-bat.”
Guerrero has talked in the past about never losing faith in his abilities and self-belief. However, in comparison, Guerrero’s season-opening performance was mediocre, as he finished April with an OPS of.678. Guerrero’s stats increased with time, but as of June 1st, he had only hit five home runs and had an OPS of.787.
Schneider sensed a promising development, though, during a series at the end of May, as Guerrero was having solid at-bats.
“You hear him talk about what he’s thinking, what he’s working on, what he’s doing, and you start to slowly see it really come out in games,” Schneider said. “Where he’s at right now is at a different level than that, but it’s a credit to him and Donnie (Mattingly) and (Guillermo Martinez) and (Matt Hague) and Hunter (Mense), and ultimately, Vladdy. I think him just realizing his talent and putting it together with a plan, that’s what we’re seeing.”
Guerrero has improved his OPS by 158 points to a.945 OPS since the beginning of June. Guerrero now appears to be on track to record at least 30 home runs for the third time in his career, although it previously appeared like he would struggle to finish with 20. Guerrero’s 194 wRC+ since June 1 has lagged behind just the top AL MVP contenders, Aaron Judge, Bobby Witt Jr., and Juan Soto. Guerrero is expected to garner primarily down-ballot MVP votes due to the Blue Jays’ current situation and the AL’s somewhat loaded field, but it is safe to say that he has re-entered the picture as one of the game’s greatest hitters—a reality that did not appear assured a few months ago.
Guerrero has not had an easy time advancing through the majors. Arriving as one of the most anticipated prospects in history, he needed several years to acclimate to the game before going on a tear in 2021, leading the majors in home runs with 48. After that, he had two respectable but not spectacular seasons by his standards. Going into the 2024 season, there was a real doubt as to whether Guerrero was a true annual MVP candidate or merely a player whose OPS starts at eight.
He now appears on his way to provide a resounding response to that query. What will it take for the Blue Jays to sign Guerrero to a long-term agreement is the current question. Because of the way he is now swinging the bat, he appears to be the best player around whom to base any future contending hopes.
Guerrero will still approach the plate with a plan in mind, though, and wait for his pitch to land. His son will have a couple more chances to hit home runs with his idol in the house as his Hall of Fame father will be in Toronto until Sunday.
(Photo: Cole Burston / Getty Images)
