It was Vladimir Guerrero Jr. poster giveaway day last Friday at Sahlen Field in downtown Buffalo. The Triple-A Bisons had a foot-high stack of glossy prints of a smiling Vladdy to hand out to the fans who braved the cold rainy weather to come to the ballgame.
Less than an hour before scheduled game time, there was a buzz on the stadium concourse. Yes, most everyone came to see Guerrero’s first home game of 2019, after he destroyed Triple-A pitching in five games on the road. But what everybody really wanted to know was: When will baseball’s No. 1 prospect be playing for the Blue Jays?
With the answer to that question achingly close, the Blue Jays’ fan base is perpetually on edge. Even Guerrero’s beloved grandma — his abuela — Altagracia Alvino, has been dealing with the uncertainty. On Friday night she was at home in Tampa, Fla., but soon she will either reunite with her grandson in Buffalo or meet him in Toronto — or someplace else — for his major-league debut.
Meanwhile, business was brisk at the Bisons’ gift shop. Outside the store, fans were checking out a rack full of Guerrero Jr. jerseys, available in Bisons’ red, grey and white, all for $119.95. Inside, more Vlad memorabilia. T-shirts, magnets, baseballs and even a Vlad-themed miniature ball and bat set. And it was all selling. Fast. Anything with Vladdy’s name or face on it was getting snatched up. One fan, 21-year-old Joaquin Chavarria, who came down from St. Catharines, Ont., picked up a white jersey. He hoped in a week’s time, he’ll be buying a blue one, too.
As the relentless rain continued to fall, a small crowd of people was camped out along the right-field line, in hopes that the golden-haired prospect might emerge from the dugout and be so kind as to indulge the fans’ autograph requests. There would be no such luck. Friday’s game was officially postponed due to rain. Saturday’s doubleheader was disrupted, too. The Bisons faithful got a mere glimpse at Guerrero. One plate appearance — he took a walk — in the first inning of a game that ended after only two.
But Vladmania transcends Buffalo city limits, state lines, national borders and team allegiances. Even if they know he’ll be mashing homers against their beloved big-league club in no time, fans wanted a glimpse of the wunderkind as he toured minor-league stadiums last week, perhaps for the final time.
Last Tuesday in Pawtucket, R.I., at McCoy Stadium, deep in Red Sox country, fans young and old peered over the railing above the visitors’ dugout, fishing for autographs by hanging baseballs, cards and other paraphernalia from string and dangling them below. Asked who everyone is waiting for, three young boys turned around and, in unison, answered with one simple word: “Vlad!”
A few seats over, 12-year-old Chamus Barrutt was wearing an oversized grey Montreal Expos jersey that he borrowed from his dad. On the back was GUERRERO 27. The Barrutts are from Bridgewater, Mass. That means Chamus’ favourite team is the Red Sox (duh). But how about those Blue Jays? “Um, I don’t dislike them,” he says, sounding just a tad unsure of himself.
What he is sure of, however, is that he likes their No. 1 prospect: “He hits it really hard and good and solid,” he said.
Indeed, all this hoopla is because, when it comes down to it, the 20-year-old Guerrero hits the ball so hard, so good and so solid. This past week has been no different. A left oblique strain derailed the second half of his spring training. It forced him to open the season with rehab games in Florida in High A, a level he conquered two years ago when most of his peers were still in high school. If his first week back in Triple A has proven anything, it’s that he’s conquered this level, too.
His five road games produced a .412/.500/.824 slash line. His seven hits included two monster home runs, the second of which was a 440-footer that went over the outfield billboards at McCoy and bounced into the parking lot. Who knows if that ball had even stopped rolling on the concrete before a video of the moonshot was rendered, condensed and shared across the social feeds of any and all baseball fans. Yet another piece of tangible evidence to file under: Guerrero is a ridiculously good baseball player.
In fact, for the past four years, Guerrero has been building a very strong case as the best Blue Jays prospect in a generation. In this last week in the minors, he’s underlined, boldfaced and italicized that statement. He is the consensus No. 1 prospect, an American League Rookie of the Year candidate before he’s even swung at a single major-league pitch. MLB Pipeline says he has “the ceiling of a perennial MVP candidate.” Ask his teammates and they’ll tell you they think he has no ceiling at all. He recently turned 20, and yet, he sees the game like he’s a 35-year-old veteran. He is treated like a superstar everywhere he goes, but he’s humble and unfazed by the attention that comes his way. He is a minor-leaguer today — but those days are numbered. The service-time dilemma has come and gone. His offensive power is elite. His defence and conditioning are works-in-progress, but there’s no reason that work can’t continue in the majors.
He’s primed to be the future face of the Blue Jays franchise. Why wait any longer?
“It’s obvious I am ready,” he said through an interpreter on Friday.
Oh and Stroman threw 7 scoreless innings of 2 hit ball last night.
“Anywhere,” he said, flashing his picturesque grin, which immediately prompted laughs from the dozen media members encircling Guerrero outside the Bisons’ clubhouse.
Guerrero has just been asked if he has a preference between making his major-league debut on the road or at the Rogers Centre. Unsurprisingly, Guerrero does not care one bit about the locale. So long as it’s one of the 30 officially sanctioned major-league baseball stadiums, he will be there.
“I just want to get the call,” he said.
But the economic benefit for the Blue Jays of delaying his big-league career meant that even though he hit .336/.414/.564 in 30 games with the Bisons last year, there was no September call-up waiting for him.
The 15 days that were needed to delay his eventual free agency by a year have passed. Since spring, he’s reportedly lost 10 pounds, and while his weight will remain something the player and the team will have to be mindful of, his preparation has improved and he is keenly aware that keeping up with his conditioning is a vital aspect of being a big-leaguer. His pair of gigantic homers serve as evidence enough that his left oblique has healed nicely and can withstand the impact of his violent swing. His defensive potential may lag behind his offensive might, but no matter how many pregame grounders Buffalo manager Bobby Meacham hits at him, there’s only one way to see if he can handle the demands of a major-league third baseman.
The Blue Jays have suggested Guerrero should ideally play in three straight games before he reaches the majors. Guerrero’s patience has appeared unwavering as he hit .331/.415/.531 in 285 minor-league games. What is three more to really drive home the point that he can crush baseballs and should be allowed to do so in the big leagues? He should get a chance to do so this week when the Bisons play four consecutive games in Syracuse, N.Y., before the Blue Jays open a weekend series at home against the Oakland Athletics on Friday. Vladmania might finally be coming to you, Toronto.
Vlad strode the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning and scorched a ball down the first base line for a double. He was replaced by Alen Hanson as a pinch runner, and scores on Brandon Drury's walk off home run. He was ready, for th right moment on the big stage.
Congrats to you Vladdy.
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