Toronto Blue Jays: A closer look at Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s triple-A debut

While Vladimir Guerrero did not make a major impact in his Triple-A debut, he showed a lot of promise, giving the Toronto Blue Jays a lot to look forward to.

Since last week, when the Toronto Blue Jays announced that Vladimir Guerrero Jr’s would be promoted from Double-A New Hampshire, to Triple-A Buffalo, the “Queen City” exuded a buzz in the air.

For many, this was the moment they were waiting for. A debut for the Buffalo Bisons hasn’t been as hyped since 1966, when Johnny Bench’s cleats touched the dirt on the old War Memorial Stadium. Flash forward to 2018; Buffalo again the site, this time in the confines of Coca-Cola Field.

The unfortunate thing about Guerrero Jr.’s debut was that only about half the stadium was full. Being a Tuesday night in a city that’s a football/hockey town first didn’t help matters, but the 8,000 plus fans — including yours truly — were in for a treat.

If I told you that a combined 19 runs on 29 hits occurred, your first reaction might be…..Guerrero was all over that stat line. Well, you would be partially right, but not in the way you may think. At the conclusion of the highly contested game, his line read: 0-1, one RBI, two runs, three walks.

Here are my observations of what the highly touted prospect showed for the Bisons on Tuesday night, in their 11-8 loss to Lehigh Valley.

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Even though Guerrero is only 19 years of age, he handles himself like a veteran. Okay, so it’s not the big leagues, but being the No. 1 prospect in all of baseball in his 1st game in Triple-A can be overwhelming to even the greatest of athletes.

Guerrero is physically imposing in stature, dwarfing his peers at 6 foot and 220 pounds. Immediately, this gentle giant had an impact on the fans, playfully acknowledged those in attendance as they gave him a warm welcome. Not only did he show that he belongs, but exuded poise and humility and no signs of nerves.

He comes exactly as advertised. In my opinion, he has the gift of making a difference even without getting a hit. It was evident that Lehigh Valley’s game plan was to stay away from him. In fact, his first three at-bats resulted in walks, as the Iron Pigs stayed away from the strike zone while he was at the plate.

Sometimes the excitement can lead to chasing balls out of the zone for a young player trying to make a huge impression. However, Guerrero showed great plate discipline.

The thing that impressed me most was Guerrero’s baserunning. Immediately after his first plate appearance, he made a great read on a line drive to left field by Danny Jansen. He took off with a perfect route going from first to third, showing the confidence we have all heard about.

After his third consecutive walk, Guerrero hustled home all the way from first base on a double by Rowdy Tellez that didn’t even warrant a play at the plate. Even in his lone official at-bat, a routine grounder to second base, the young prospect ran through the bag, making the out closer than it should’ve been.

The only criticism of Guerrero’s has been his ability to play third base. It has been reported that he has been working with coaches to improve this area while climbing the ranks. Early in the game, his range was tested.

The first inning saw a ball slip past his glove as he dove to his left, possibly questioning his range. However, the next inning he showed no signs of that deficit as he made two outstanding picks to his left, recording consecutive putouts.

It is still a work in progress, as Guerrero showed slight hesitation after he set his feet to make the throw to first. On both plays, he short hopped the first baseman. To me, this is a good sign, as he showed the composure and dedication to improve his mechanics; without the proper footwork, you will not be a successful fielder.

His arm has been rated as above average, so those throws will hit the mark with continued work. Guerrero’s only blip in the field came later in the game fielding a bunt. His hesitation, along with Tim Mayza coming off the mound, led to an infield single……remember, he is only 19!

If there is anything that I can take away from his debut, it’s this…..Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. is here to stay. Still raw, he has all the tools to become a force in the game for years to come. He is already a phenom, and I have no doubt he will be making an impact north of the border.

So, enjoy this time; make the trip to Buffalo and watch the evolution of a tremendous ball player. Before you know it, he will be on the big stage, doing what he’s been doing: making an impact all over the diamond.

What are your thoughts so far? Did any of our fans see the prodigy on Tuesday night? Are you planning a trip to our beloved city? What are your expectations of the Toronto Blue Jays’ future.