Vladimir Guerrero Jr.: Blue Jays’ Slugger Revels In Breakout Season

Since before the turn of the century has the name Vladimir Guerrero carried a certain weight. It has been a swift decade since the nine-time All Star and Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr.’s final Major League Baseball appearance. Before the name even had time to settle in the panoply of the sport’s finest, the new one that goes by ‘Jr.’ was already upon us. A top level prospect upon arrival, one would be naive to assume the prodigy as instantly proficient as his predecessor. Adjusting takes time, no doubt, as a steady start to life at the top of baseball’s pyramid has been royally replaced by the power hitting slugger that wafts a wave of nostalgia in the faces of those who remember his father.

Maybe it’s the 16 home runs, 41 RBIs and .443 OBP through a little over a quarter of the season that breathes excitement into the fanatics’ brains. Indeed, it should too entice fans of the Toronto ballclub as they appear to have found their franchise player - the Fernando Tatis Jr. of the Blue Jays, if you will. At the same youthful age of 22, both Jr’s are flourishing for their respective teams as the season begins to lose its freshness. No drop off in production, as Guerrero’s 1.104 OPS sits atop the entire league. True also for his home runs, and his total bases, and his fWAR. I think you can begin to formulate some sort of picture…

For an ever improving roster in an ever strengthening division, the Jays desperately require this level of hitting to last. Known for his power, with his sweet swing and deadly connection, Guerrero’s breakout season has yet to be truly equalled by another in that lineup. For all it is worth, a record that currently sits a smidgen above .500 will not translate into an immediate success story. The New York Yankees, with their undeniable talent on the hill and at the plate, are a continual force of danger. The Boston Red Sox who, with their apparent depleted band of players, show few signs of tailing off after making a strong statement to the rest of the league, let alone the division. And then there are the Tampa Bay Rays, the American League Champions who currently pose the best record (31-20) in the AL. Three franchises all in the same division, all with superior rosters. It is probably best, then, to hold off on the fireworks in Toronto for the time being.

Ah, yes, this is not to suggest that the Jays will never compete with their AL East rivals, just as it is unlikely to be in their near vicinity. Their roster is young, hungry and, on the outside, relatively scary. Bo Bichette showed genuine flashes of brilliance last year almost as good as his name. Eleven booming bombs this time around have the 23 year-old shortstop on pace for over 30 home runs this season. That would certainly be welcome, as would a repeat of Cavan Biggio’s success of 2020. A watchful eye earned the auspicious third baseman 41 walks from 59 games, propelling his on-base percentage to a meaty .375. An initial glance of the lineup card reveals a solid blend of experience and youth, where some who have been cautiously homegrown combine with ageing names one may have queried over their current location. Marcus Semien? Joe Panik? George Springer? These are big names of the baseball world, the latter two with World Series rings to boast. Surely they believe success is not too far over the horizon.

It seems impalpable on the exterior, owning a reputable roster at the same time three of your closest rivals brag deeper qualities. There is no rush, no need to be hasty in this sport. In an era where decade-long contracts are becoming the conventional, success is not made overnight, but over time. Players of a similar age to Guerrero have collected their multi-year, multi-million dollar contracts - Soto, Tatis Jr., Acuña Jr. - as they embark on spending a mammoth-chunk of their time with one franchise. Guerrero, making a mockery of pitching this year, cannot be too far distant from that conversation. His price tag is only soaring, soaring like the balls he continues to crush with such elegant venom at an increasingly consistent rate. If the Blue Jays are serious about contending, they need him to sign that cherished contract, in turn locking up a pillar of their future. Do it briskly, however, as the way he’s going, the Jays will soon require a much larger chequebook.