Vladimir Guerrero of Blue Jays swings on Home Run Derby
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has listened to the Toronto Blue Jays fans – and his family – and returns to Major League Baseball’s home-run derby.
Guerrero will participate in the slugging exhibit at Seattle’s T-Mobile Park on July 10. It will be Guerrero’s second time participating in the event after setting a record 91 home runs as a rookie in 2019.
“My family, they’ve been asking me to join for the past two years,” Guerrero said after taking batting practice at the Rogers Center in Toronto on Thursday. “They asked me again this year and I said, ‘Okay, if you want me to go, I’ll be there this year.’
However, Guerrero eventually lost 23-22 to New York Mets first baseman Pete Alonso in the derby final. Seattle Mariners star Julio Rodriguez is the only other confirmed participant in the event to date.
The 24-year-old Blue Jays first baseman said he’s not worried about strategy or who he might face in the three-round, one-elimination tournament.
“No plan at all,” Guerrero said through translator Hector Lebron. “I just go in and hit home runs, man.
“Just enjoy and then just hit homers.”
John Schneider, then the Blue Jays’ catching coach, pitched to Guerrero during the 2019 derby. Now promoted to manager of Toronto a few times, Schneider has again agreed to pitch to Guerrero.
“I’ve been recruited. I’ll make the trip. Try not to mess it up,” Schneider said, joking that if Guerrero wins the prize money, he’s hoping for a generous tip. “He asked me a few days ago, so it’s pretty cool.
“That’s probably the most fun I’ve had on a field, just watching balls fly.”
Guerrero is off to a slow start this season with 11 homeruns in 78 games. In 2021, he took the league lead with 48 home runs, followed by 32 last year.
Schneider said participating in the home-run derby could spark Guerrero’s power play.
“I think it’s just cool for him to be in that environment with the best players in the world,” said Schneider. “It kind of reminds you how talented and good you are when you’re in that vibe, whether it’s the game or the derby or both.”
Guerrero agreed with Schneider that the derby could help him find his home run hit when the regular season resumes.
“I always pick one or two rounds in batting practice to hit homers every day,” Guerrero said. “So yes, I will say yes, it will help me a lot.”
No Blue Jays were named in the American League roster on Thursday night when the all-star starting rosters were announced.
They will get a second chance on Sunday when the complete all-star rosters, including pitchers and reserve players, will be announced for both teams. Pitchers and reserves – a total of 23 players for each side – will be selected by player ballot and selections by the Commissioner’s Office.
This report from The Canadian Press was first published on June 29, 2023.
