TORONTO -- In a Blue Jays lineup stacked with talent and power from one through nine, Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s offensive potential still towers above the rest.
Guerrero has only gazed at that potential from a distance over his first two Major League seasons. Then he showed up to camp in Dunedin, Fla., this spring in better shape and hit everything he saw in Grapefruit League play. That shift has carried into the early days of the season in New York, including his first home run of the season in Sunday’s 3-1 win over the Yankees.
Staying back on an outside fastball from Domingo Germán, Guerrero drove the ball to the opposite field and followed through into that nice, high finish you’ll see from him when he’s locked in.
“That was a beautiful swing to go opposite-field,” said manager Charlie Montoyo. “I know the right field is not too deep here, but he hit it way back there. That was a beautiful scene and a big run in a close game like this.”
To evaluate Guerrero requires a holistic view of his offensive game. The monstrous exit velocity numbers and highlight-reel homers will always be there -- and they certainly were as he posted a .778 OPS through the 2019-20 seasons -- but he’s not a classic slugger who sells out for power. When Guerrero is at his best, he’s taking as many walks as strikeouts and driving the ball to all fields.
That’s what made him the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball in 2019. Not just the rockets, but everything he did in between.
“Compared to last year, I feel a lot better,” Guerrero said through translator Hector Lebron. “It’s all about timing. I think my timing is perfect right now. I’m seeing the ball very well, and I just feel comfortable at the plate.”
Guerrero’s first steps in 2021 have been impressive, but we’re still months away from seeing the full picture. One of the primary reasons Guerrero made changes to his fitness was that he ran out of gas in ‘19, losing the battle to the grind of 162 games. Sustaining his newfound form is the key for Guerrero -- and he’ll need to prove it -- but if he takes that next step, he is the key piece that can take one of the American League’s strongest lineups to an elite level.
Last summer, Guerrero admitted he came into camp out of shape. He has since apologized to his teammates for that, earning him respect in the clubhouse, and he has further committed to his body. Like everything else, this change needs to become a permanent routine instead of an annual swing, but he’s checking off the right boxes for now.
Guerrero’s confidence showed throughout camp, as he hit .421 with a 1.247 OPS over 47 spring plate appearances. When the 22-year-old is feeling good about his game, his teammates say that energy is contagious.
“He’s had it since he got back from the Dominican for Spring Training,” Montoyo said. “He is in great shape, and he feels good about himself. I know his teammates are happy because they know and we know what he can do.”
Nobody is expecting the Blue Jays’ lineup to be a one-man show, of course, and it won’t need to be. When George Springer returns from his left oblique strain and slides into the leadoff spot, Toronto can comfortably hold its batting order up against any team in the AL.
On Sunday, Guerrero’s home run was followed by a two-run shot off the bat of Randal Grichuk, who was hitting seventh in a lineup that featured the offensively minded Alejandro Kirk in the No. 9 spot. There’s length here, and plenty of bats to carry the load, but it’s Guerrero who still holds the potential to take over ball games for the Blue Jays.
https://news.google.com/__i/rss/rd/articles/CBMiUGh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lm1sYi5jb20vbmV3cy92bGFkaW1pci1ndWVycmVyby1qci1oaXRzLWZpcnN0LWhvbWUtcnVuLW9mLTIwMjEtc2Vhc29u0gFZaHR0cHM6Ly93d3cubWxiLmNvbS9hbXAvbmV3cy92bGFkaW1pci1ndWVycmVyby1qci1oaXRzLWZpcnN0LWhvbWUtcnVuLW9mLTIwMjEtc2Vhc29uLmh0bWw?oc=5
2021-04-04 21:22:30Z
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