'He's Still Heating Up, Which Is Scary': Vlad Goes Oppo In Win
HOUSTON: Vladimir Hergero Jr. easy now. The same tenacity that carried him through the days when he was a top prospect, when life was good and baseball was easy.
On Tuesday, as Guerrero practiced before a game in Houston, his hood pulled tight and two chains of diamonds flashing across the front, he hit half a dozen balls where he shouldn't have. Then the games started and video games became a reality.
Guerrero hit his third home run of the season to open the scoring in Toronto's 4-0 victory by a field. 357 with as many walks as strikeouts (nine) and a slugging percentage that seems to have been wiped from Little League stats. That's Vlad Jr.'s experience completely, and while a disappointing 2022 season by his standards has dispelled some of Guerrero's panic, the powerhouse is back on track.
"I learned a lot last year. It's not how you start, it's how you end," Guerrero said through an interpreter. "Last year, of course, I felt a bit twisted and maybe pushed a bit. This year, I don't think so. I just want to go there to do my job, have fun and relax. It was great. "
The 24-year-old trusted his program. X- and O are irrelevant. The important thing is that he stays with the program regardless of the results. In 2022, Guerrero deviated from this plan at times, trying to become the Power MVP when the Blue Jays just needed a strong single. Now he realized he was a hunter, not the other way around.
"He took what he got, at least hitting hard. He's a hitter first and foremost," manager John Schneider said. "A new government is coming. He's like that all the time, especially in 2021. He can hit the ball all over the pitch."
This makes Gerhero special in the minor leagues, especially in 2018. He has the uncanny ability to see a shot from 97mph to 50mph. Sometimes it seems like winning the bat is better than winning. It will be decades before we see another Blue Jays prospect take control of his game.
We see another flash. Schneider was quick to point out some recent swings that had become too big, but for the most part, Guerrero was hitting again. If he was focused on winning batting titles, he would have enough natural strength to claim the home run crown by accident.
With that in mind, there will always be one number that determines the success of Guerrero: the launch angle. The ground ball chased first base as he struggled. You see that in 2020 and 2022, none of them had the best campaigns. However, in 21, when Guerrero finished second in AL MVP voting, his average launch angle was higher at 9.4 degrees.
this season. Even above 12.3 degrees. It's the perfect place thanks to the superpowers of lightness.
Matt Chapman, who also scored on Tuesday by shedding incredible tears, sees Guerrero as a more mature striker this season. He's looking at starlets that are more balanced, more selective, and don't waste their shots. Add to that Guerrero's defense, which continues to improve beyond what most might think, and base runs, which offer more pace than you might expect, and you have a well-balanced team.
The Blue Jays' current roster and new aggressive style seemed to suit Guerrero. When asked if he wants to try and get some more stolen bases, he grins from ear to ear and you see the big guy again.
"Oh sure. I love it," Guerrero said. "I'm a player who, if I have the chance, I will leave. Otherwise, very good, but whenever I have the opportunity to go to the base, I will.
However, when Guerrero's touch turned into strength, he ran more. With an incredibly talented team from Chapman to Beau Bichette and more, Guerrero still has the most unique ability to take a game and split it in half.
We've seen it before and we're seeing it again.
"I feel like he's still warming up," Chapman said, "which is scary."
