Toronto Blue Jays: Breaking down Vladimir Guerrero Jr.’s MLB debut

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. got his first major-league hit at the perfect time to help the Toronto Blue Jays walk off the Oakland Athletics on Friday

It was more than just another Friday game in April for the Toronto Blue Jays and their fans, as Vladimir Guerrero Jr. was making the most anticipated debut in franchise history.

Guerrero made sure to get to the park well ahead of his first game, arriving at Rogers Centre six hours before first pitch. He did it in style, as well, rocking his father’s Montreal Expos jersey.

In honour of Guerrero, the Blue Jays opened their doors an hour early in order to give the fans a chance to catch baseball’s No. 1 prospect taking batting practice. He didn’t disappoint. With his family, including Vlad Sr., in attendance, Guerrero took the field and put on a show in the cage.

He belted one ball just under the level of excellence and managed to break one of the windows at the Sportsnet Grill.

Guerrero would get the start at third base and bat fifth in the lineup against the Oakland Athletics.

The Blue Jays opened the scoring after Eric Sogard took A’s starter Mike Fiers deep in the first inning. Rowdy Tellez would be the final out of the opening frame, setting the stage for Guerrero to lead off in the second.

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The home crowd was seldom in their seats during this game. They rose to their feet after Guerrero picked up a foul ball hit near the hot corner in the second inning. They stood minutes later for his first at-bat, which ended with a groundout to former Blue Jay Kendrys Morales.

His ability with the bat was never a question. His glove work, however, was an area that needed improvement. He managed to hush some critics after he flashed the leather in the fourth inning, scooping a short-hopper out of the dirt before firing to first to throw out the runner.

In his second at-bat, Guerrero would hit a ball that looked destined to reach the seats. However, Athletics outfielder Brandon Pinder would break the crowd’s collective hearts with a leaping catch at the wall.

The 20-year-old would cap off his debut in the ninth inning with his first hit in the majors – a double down the right-field line.

He would be subbed out of the game for pinch runner Alen Hanson. After Billy McKinney moved Hanson over to third base with a sacrifice bunt, Brandon Drury walked off the Athletics with a homer to right-centre field.

Guerrero was one of the first members of the team to head out to home plate and meet Drury. He also got in on the fun, drenching his fellow infielder – and Jon Paul Morosi – with Gatorade during a postgame interview.

Once he got back to the clubhouse, Guerrero was given the same treatment manager Charlie Montoyo received after getting his first win with the team. Jays players put the youngster into a cart, rolled him into the showers, and drenched him with beer, eggs, and almond milk.

Lost in all the Guerrero headlines was the stellar outing from Jays starter Marcus Stroman. The right-hander finished with a no-decision, but he pitched seven scoreless innings, allowing just a single hit while striking out seven. He now has a 1.43 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP with 36 punchouts in 37 2/3 innings this season.

“I was just as excited as the entire fanbase. Getting Vladdy up here, it’s like having Zion Williamson on your team. He’s a once in a lifetime talent,” Stroman told reporters postgame. “I could sit here and rave to you about him all day. I just can’t wait to get out there an watch him play.”

The Jays will finish up their homestand over the weekend with two more games against Oakland. They’ll then head out on the road for a six-game road trip that goes through Los Angeles and Texas.

Guerrero is going to make several lasting memories with the Blue Jays over his career. But the first impression is the most important, and his was one that the Toronto faithful won’t forget any time soon.