7:03 pm | April 26, 2019 | Go to Source | Author:
TORONTO — Vladimir Guerrero Jr. capped his major league debut with a double leading off the ninth inning for his first hit, and Brandon Drury followed with a winning two-run homer with two out to lift the Toronto Blue Jays over the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Friday night.
The 20-year-old son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, considered the top prospect in the major leagues, arrived at Rogers Centre in a replica Montreal Expos jersey to honor his father, who was on hand. He grounded out in the second, was robbed of an extra-base hit by left fielder Chad Pinder‘s leaping catch in the fourth, then flied out to right in the sixth.
Guerrero Jr. then hit an opposite-field double down the right-field line on a 2-2 fastball from Yusmeiro Petit (0-1) in the ninth. Billy McKinney sacrificed pinch runner Alen Hanson to third and, with the infield in, Teoscar Hernandez lined out to second baseman Jurickson Profar.
Drury followed with a drive over the center-field wall, and Guerrero, arm raised, was the first Blue Jays player out of the dugout to celebrate.
“It’s like having Zion Williamson on your team; it’s like a once-in-a-lifetime kind of talent,” Jays pitcher Marcus Stroman said of Guerrero’s impact on the team after the game. “So just to have the opportunity to play with him, it’s amazing to look out there and see him behind me at third base. I think he’s gonna give us a huge little edge, and just, like I said, just carry this momentum from this win into every other start.”
Born in Montreal during his dad’s tenure with the Expos, Guerrero Jr. said it was meaningful to play his first big league game north of the border.
“I’m very happy, very proud of myself for making my debut here in Canada,” he said before Friday’s game.
Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins was happy, too.
“As he walked into the clubhouse yesterday, seeing and hearing it put a massive smile on my face,” Atkins said. “It’s such a good baseball story, and he’s so aware of it. He’s more aware than most of our young players of what it means to play for a city and a country.”
Guerrero wore No. 27, the number retired in honor of his father by the Los Angeles Angels. Following this weekend’s home series against Oakland, the Blue Jays head west for a three-game series against the Angels.
Guerrero’s famous father was on hand Friday to watch his son take batting practice, which was broadcast live on Sportsnet, the Canadian network operated by team owner Rogers Communications.
Guerrero Jr. missed the start of the season after an oblique injury in spring training. He played four rehab games at Class-A Dunedin before moving up to Triple-A Buffalo, where he hit .367 with three homers and eight RBIs in eight games.
By delaying his debut until Friday, the Blue Jays ensured his maximum service time this year would be 157 days — 15 days shy of being eligible for free agency after the 2024 season. While there is little doubt about Guerrero’s ability at the plate, his defense remains uncertain.
“Is he somewhat below average amongst major league third basemen? We’ll see,” Atkins said. “He could come here and perform as an average third baseman but we’re shooting for him to be exceptional, not just average.”
Guerrero said defense is the part of his game he feels he’s improved the most in the past two years. The few hundred fans already inside the stadium clapped and cheered as Guerrero launched several long drives, including one off the windows of restaurant on the third level, and another into the center field party deck.
Toronto selected Guerrero’s contract from Triple-A Buffalo and optioned infielder Richard Urena to the International League farm team.
Also Friday, Atkins said minor league shortstop Bo Bichette will not need surgery to repair a broken bone in his left hand, an injury that occurred when Bichette was hit a pitch Monday. Bichette is expected to miss four to six weeks.
“We’re very hopeful that he pushes that envelope for us,” Atkins said.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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