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Toronto Blue Jays: Top 10 moments from the 2019 season

By Trevor Popoff

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates their victory with Billy McKinney #28 and Ken Giles #51 as Brandon Drury #3 hit a game-winning two-run home run in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Oakland Athletics at Rogers Centre. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. #27 of the Toronto Blue Jays celebrates their victory with Billy McKinney #28 and Ken Giles #51 as Brandon Drury #3 hit a game-winning two-run home run in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Oakland Athletics at Rogers Centre. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays competes in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Progressive Field. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
Vladimir Guerrero Jr. of the Toronto Blue Jays competes in the T-Mobile Home Run Derby at Progressive Field. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images) /

3. Vladdy goes yard 91 times

2019 Home Run Derby – July 8, 2019

Alright, I understand that this could easily take top spot on this list, but before anybody gets ahead of themselves, I am of the belief that the top moment of the season should have taken place in a real game.

With that being said, Vladdy’s performance in this year’s longball launch-off was nothing short of extraordinary. While the night’s technical winner was Pete Alonso, who eventually bested Guerrero Jr. in the final round of the competition, Vlad undoubtedly stole the show when he left Progressive Field 29 times to beat Matt Chapman, 40 times to get past Joc Pederson in a swing-off and 22 times in a losing effort to Alonso.

Guerrero Jr.’s performance put him on the map for the casual fan and ignited the Cleveland crowd, who knew they were witnessing history. Here are some stats to put his performance in perspective. Guerrero Jr. hit 7.3 miles (11.74 kilometres) of home runs in the competition. That’s about as far as Rogers Centre is from Highway 401.

Also, Vlad Jr. hit the most homers measured at 440 feet or more. Overall, there were 24.8 miles (39.91 kilometres) of dingers on the night, enough to get from the home of the Blue Jays to Ajax as the crow flies. Yes, Pete Alonso may have hoisted the trophy on the night, but it’s Vladdy’s performance that will be the lasting memory of the 2019 Home Run Derby.

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