The first one is always special! @VladdyJr27 | #LetsGoBlueJays pic.twitter.com/34w7sYxn2H
— Toronto Blue Jays (@BlueJays) April 27, 2019
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit .250 over the weekend in his Toronto Blue Jays debut. The Blue Jays 3rd baseman had a double and 2 singles, adding a walk but with 3 strikeouts.
His impact on the Blue Jays was larger than his statistics. MLB Network changed its schedule to carry Friday's Guerrero debut with the Blue Jays. Toronto is now 14-14, winners of 9 of their last 12 games. Given the horrible start, especially on offence, the Blue Jays are playing rather good baseball. Oakland swept Toronto last year but the Blue Jays swept the A's this season.
Not all of this success is because of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. whether the hype before his arrival or once he went from Buffalo (AAA) to Toronto (MLB). The Blue Jays are 3-0 with Guerrero on the team. Now the team heads on a road trip to Anaheim and Texas, places where his father Vladimir Guerrero called home in the major leagues.
The senior Guerrero was there in Toronto for his son's debut. The junior Guerrero wore his father's Montréal Expos jersey to the press conference to introduce him to Toronto. This reminded people of the walk-off home run in Montréal's Olympic Stadium in the final exhibition game of 2018.
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Vladimir Guerrero started his career in Montréal, where the junior Guerrero was born. The junior Guerrero may have his choice in which country he represents in international play. But Guerrero can legitimately represent Canada as he does now wearing the blue and white of the Toronto Blue Jays.
CanadianCrossing.com MLB coverage
The sense is that the other Blue Jays players are playing better because Guerrero is here. Brandon Drury might subscribe to that theory. Drury, who knew he was destined for 2nd base once Guerrero arrived to play 3rd base, hit 2 crucial home runs over the weekend. Drury hit a 2-run, walk-off home run Friday night after Guerrero started the inning with a 2-strike, opposite field double. He added a 3-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning to tie the game.
Eric Sogard has come along to be the leadoff hitter the team desperately needed.
The team gave up 3 runs in the top of the 11th inning. In the beginning of the season, the Blue Jays would have been done. Sunday was a different story.
The future is now.
— Toronto Raptors (@Raptors) April 28, 2019
Welcome, @vladdyjr27!#WeTheNorth | #LetsGoBlueJays pic.twitter.com/QAKALM0TjD
The Vladimir Guerrero Jr. momentum swept over to Scotiabank Arena and Game 1 of the Toronto Raptors second-round playoff series with Philadelphia. Guerrero got to meet his favourite artist, Drake, Raptors Global Ambassador.
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is only 20 years old. The hype will eventually settle down and he will go back to being the 3rd baseman and occasional designated hitter. He will hit well beyond .250 with better bat control. Imagine what the Blue Jays will look like then.
Twitter capture: @BlueJays; @Raptors
photo credit: Instagram marly_espn
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