1. Vladdy’s debut
Oakland A’s at Blue Jays – April 26, 2019
No one name has been on the lips of Blue Jays fans in 2019 more than Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
Whether it’s his performance in the home run derby, his assertions that he doesn’t work out, his knee problems or his rock-solid rookie season, Guerrero Jr. has been all Jays fans can talk about from the start of the season right up until now.
Vladdy didn’t break camp with the team, so fans were left guessing as to when he might finally suit up for the Blue Jays in Toronto. When news broke that he would make his big league debut at home, hype levels went through the roof.
For the last Vladdy-less Jays game of 2019, the Jays drew just over 19,000 for the finale of a two-game series against the San Francisco Giants. For Vladdy’s debut, a crowd of 28,688 fans passed through the turnstiles to see the young Guerrero take the field for the first time, a spike of over 9,000 people. And Vladdy didn’t disappoint.
Hitless coming into the bottom of the ninth, Guerrero laced a double into right. He was voraciously applauded when pulled for a pinch-runner. Moments later, Brandon Drury homered to centrefield, making Guerrero Jr.’s double the winning run and walking off the Oakland A’s yet again. Not a bad way to start your career.
What was your favourite moment from the 2019 Blue Jays season and what do you hope to see from the team next season? Let us know in the comments below.