MLB The Show cover star Guerrero has one goal: ‘Win a championship’

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was all smiles when he learned he will be gracing the cover of MLB The Show 24 video game this year.

Article content

As the first member of the Toronto Blue Jays to land the distinction since former American League MVP Josh Donaldson was named the game’s cover star in both the U.S. and Canada in 2016, Guerrero says the honour means he gets to live out yet another childhood dream.

Article content

“It’s a big thing to be on the cover of MLB the Show,” Guerrero, 24, said in a video call after he was revealed Tuesday as the cover athlete for Sony’s MLB The Show 2024 video game.

“As a kid, I played a lot of video games … I still play a lot of video games,” Guerrero said breaking into a grin.

With the nod, he follows his hall-of-famer dad, Vladimir Guerrero, who graced the cover of MLB 2006 — the predecessor to MLB The Show.

Guerrero, an avid gamer, has played The Show since its early days when it was first released on PlayStation 2. Amongst his teammates, the three-time all-star says he’s probably one of the players you’ll find plugging into his PS5 on his down time.

Article content

“Bo plays the most, though,” Guerrero said of the his teammate Bo Bichette. “He plays a lot. He almost won the (The Show Players Tournament) they did a few years ago.”

Previous covers have featured Jazz Chisholm Jr., Shohei Ohtani, Fernando Tatis Jr., Bryce Harper, Aaron Judge, Ken Griffey Jr., Javier Baez, Yasiel Puig and ex-Blue Jay Donaldson.

In past years, Canadian-specific editions have been released with former Toronto players Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez, Russell Martin, Brett Lawrie and Jose Bautista appearing on the cover.

In a release, PlayStation cited Guerrero’s game play as well as his “baseball family, his love for the game and commitment to community service” for his selection this year, which is highlighted by the Ride to Reveal documentary.

Guerrero is known as much for his playful style — he’ll gleefully throw balls to fans in the stands from his spot on first base throughout the games at Toronto’s Rogers Centre — as he is for his home-run smashing power in the batter’s box. That combination has made him a favourite with fans across Canada and south of the border as well.

Last summer, Guerrero was crowned the Home Run Derby champ after taking down the Tampa Bay Rays’ left fielder Randy Arozarena, 25-23, in the finals. The title made the Guerreros the first father-son combo to win the Derby (his Hall of Fame father won the competition in 2007).

Article content

Article content

But in The Show video game, Guerrero prefers to play Diamond Dynasty —  a mode of the game that lets players assemble their ultimate dream team. A team that he has formed with two of his cousins has gone 92-44.

“I play online with people I don’t know and I don’t know if they’re good or bad,” Guerrero said.

He likes the challenges and the gamers he plays against like when they know it’s him they’re facing.

“They trash talk because they know it’s me,” he said with a laugh.

The 2021 MVP runner-up finished last season with 26 home runs, 94 RBI, a .264 batting average and an .789 OPS. Through his first five seasons in the big leagues, Guerrero has a career .279 with 130 homers and 404 RBI.

But even though 2023 was a down year, Guerrero said his ambition for the coming season remains the same after last fall’s post-season disappointment when the Jays were swept in a wild-card series against the Minnesota Twins.

Article content

“I’m trying to bring back a championship to Toronto,” he said. “That’s the goal.”

As he gets ready for Spring Training in just a few weeks — as well as an important salary arbitration hearing set for next month in Arizona — Guerrero spoke to Postmedia about his own road to the show, his favourite moments as a Blue Jay and told us what he was doing when Shohei Ohtani was rumoured to be on a flight to Toronto in December.

I know there’s always controversy about the Show’s player grades. What do you and your teammates think of the ratings?

Sometimes a lot of people don’t think the ratings are fair. But for me, they’re doing a job and if they rate me like that it’s because they think I’m like that.

How did you react when you saw yourself for the first time in video game form?

Article content

I was happy. It was the first time I saw myself in a video game so I had no complaints.

What’s it like for you to be one of the new faces of major league baseball?

It means a lot … When you’re a little kid and you’re playing the game and the video games, you feel like maybe one day you’ll get there. So when that happens, it’s a dream come true.

I’ve talked to Bo about the game and he told me he didn’t like to face (Atlanta Braves pitcher) Charlie Morton in the game or real life. Do you have an opposing player that’s like that for you?

In the game, there’s no one I’m scared to face. But in real life, I don’t like to face (Los Angeles Dodgers hurler) Ryan Yarbrough. I don’t know why, but I don’t like to face him … I wish I knew him so I could ask him, ‘Why can’t I get a hit?’

Article content

Is there a key to getting you out in the game?

It’s not easy, but when I face myself in the video game, I don’t pitch anything in the zone. I’m all up out of the zone.

Your former teammate — Lourdes Gurriel Jr. — told me he uses MLB The Show to scout opposing teams. Have you ever done that?

Not really. But I know he does that.

In MLB The Show you can play with a lot of legends — your dad is one of them. Who are the other legends you like to play with?

David Ortiz, Ken Griffey Jr. … I’ve got a lot. Andruw Jones. Chipper Jones. Back in the day, I liked John Donaldson. I like Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez. I like a lot of legends.

What about stadiums? What’s your favourite city in the game and real life?

In the game, I like (Coors Field in) Colorado where the Rookies play. I like that field because the ball flies in there in the game. But in real life, I like playing at home and Yankee Stadium.

Article content

Speaking of the Yankees, what’s the team you always got to beat, in the game and in real life?

In the game, I can’t really say because I play a lot of Diamond Dynasty. But in real life … Everybody. I like to beat everybody.

Like a lot of Blue Jays fans, I’ve been watching all the off-season moves. But last month, were you watching that private plane headed to Toronto from California and wondering if Shohei Ohtani was on it?

Not really because at the same time I had a flight to Puerto Rico, so I couldn’t be on my phone. But I was waiting for a call because I said, ‘If he signs, call me.’ So as all that was happening I was saying to myself, ‘If he signs, they’re going to call me, no matter what.’ So I just enjoyed my weekend in Puerto Rico.

Article content

I remember going to your first game in Toronto back in April 2019. That was pretty special to watch. Do you have a special memory so far in a Blue Jay uniform?

My first hit (a double off Oakland’s Yusmeiro Petit) followed by Brandon Drury’s walk-off home run (on April 26, 2019). That’s my favourite moment right now.

You came up with Toronto as a teenager and I’m sure you were keeping an eye on the club from afar before you joined full-time. Do you have a favourite moment watching the team over the years? 

I always watched Jose Bautista, back in the day, Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado … when you’re growing up, and your father plays baseball, you have to watch the game every day.

So you always knew you wanted to be a ballplayer?

Always, since I was born.

So there was no plan B?

(Laughs) None.

MLB The Show 24 releases on March 19, 2024, on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One.

X: @markhdaniell

Article content