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Toronto Blue Jays hoping like father, like son with legacy prospects

By Tyler Partridge

Jul 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Ken Griffey Jr. hugs his father Ken Griffey Sr. after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 2015 Home Run Derby the day before the MLB All Star Game at Great American Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 13, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Ken Griffey Jr. hugs his father Ken Griffey Sr. after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch prior to the 2015 Home Run Derby the day before the MLB All Star Game at Great American Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /
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Toronto Blue Jays
Apr 1, 2016; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Former Montreal Expos player Vladimir Guerrero salutes the crowd next to Tim Raines during a ceremony before the game between teh Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays at Olympic Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-USA TODAY Sports /

Vladimir Guerrero

Vladimir Guerrero the first (or Senior) had a Hall of Fame career and is expected to be inducted into Cooperstown in only his second year on the ballot. He received 71.7% of the votes in his first year.

The free-swinging righty broke into the Majors with the Montreal Expos, and spent the first eight years of his 16 year career playing in front of Canadian crowds. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was actually born in Montreal in his dad’s fourth year in Canada and his first All-Star season with the Expos.

He was a nine time all star, with a career .318 average, 449 home runs, and he helped the Anaheim Angels win the World Series in 2002.

Guerrero had a brief lay over with the Blue Jays organization, signing as a free agent on a minor league deal in 2012. But he asked for his release after the team was slow to promote him to the big league club. After he failed to make the MLB with Toronto, the then 37 year old Guerrero called it a career.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. – 3B

His dad came to North America as a work in progress – a young man, escaping poverty in the Dominican Republic, he was brimming with raw potential, but there was no guarantee.

Junior on the other hand arrived in America a well-oiled hitting machine. He grew up surrounded by baseball, his all-star father, his uncle Wilton who played 678 MLB games, and his older cousin Gabriel who is now in the Cincinnati Reds system.

The Jays signed the 16 year old slugger to a $3.9 million contract in the international signing period on July 2, 2015.

In his first season in the U.S. he played in the Appalachian League for the Bluefield Blue Jays, playing 62 games and hitting .271 with 8 home runs.

The Canadian-born, Dominican-raised prospect got a hit and two RBI in his first game and had his first home run in his second.

He is continuing to impress in Single A Lansing batting .327, with a .417 OBP in 58 games.

Guerrero Jr. is the Jays number one ranked prospect and is ranked 28th in all of the MLB despite just turning 18.

Much like Bichette, Guerrero will make it to the majors because of his bat and the team will figure out his position later. Some believe he will become a first baseman later in his career.

This is the best father-son duo of the lot. Senior is a Hall of Famer and Junior is considered a can’t miss prospect.

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