The most beloved athlete in Canada proper now may be Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The 26-year-old slugger, who signed with the Blue Jays group in 2015 and has performed his whole huge league profession with the staff since 2019, has set the world alight on this yr’s MLB playoffs – main Toronto to its first World Series look since 1993.
The landmark run has come behind Guerrero Jr.’s astounding batting; he’s gone .442 from the plate with 12 RBIs and 6 home runs this postseason, drawing him degree with José Bautista and Joe Carter for the most homers in Blue Jays franchise postseason history.
And he has carried out all of it in a single, magical October that has thus far seen him be awarded the American League Championship Series (ALCS) MVP after the Blue Jays defeated the Seattle Mariners in seven video games to advance to the Fall Classic.
Despite this month being legacy defining for the Montreal-born, five-time MLB All-Star, the Guerrero title is already firmly stamped in baseball’s historical past books.
His father, Baseball Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero Sr., was the 2004 AL MVP and a nine-time Major League All-Star who performed 16 years in MLB with the Montreal Expos (1996-2003), Anaheim/Los Angeles Angels (2004-2009), Texas Rangers (2010) and the Baltimore Orioles (2011).
Although Guerrero Jr. is now on everybody’s thoughts in Toronto, it wasn’t his first foray into the baseball limelight in Canada. As a baby, he was a regular at the ballpark, typically accompanying his dad on the discipline earlier than video games.
“And from the time I was very young, I remember always imitating what my dad did on the field,” Guerrero Jr. wrote for The Players Tribune.
The youthful Guerrero detailed that he watched his father and tried to emulate him, even selecting up on gameday routines.
“He taped his ft earlier than video games … so I taped my ft earlier than video games.
“He didn’t put on batting gloves … so I didn’t put on batting gloves.
“He stood a certain way in the batter’s box … so I took the same stance,” he mentioned.
But now the roles are reversed, along with his father watching on as the youthful Guerrero provides to the household legacy and continues to gentle up the diamond.
After his son was topped ALCS MVP in a collection the place he went yard thrice, the older Guerrero confirmed his help in an Instagram post that learn: “I’ve seen every sacrifice, every workout, every tear. Watching him become the ALCS MVP is the reward for all of it. You’re great son!”
Despite all of his accolades, Guerrero Sr. by no means gained a World Series, along with his closest try coming as a delegated hitter when he and the Rangers misplaced the 2010 Fall Classic in 5 video games to the San Francisco Giants. He left MLB the following season to be a part of the Dominican Major League.
“My personal goal is to win a World Series and give the ring to my dad,” Guerrero Jr. mentioned in an interview with Fox Sports earlier than the Blue Jays had clinched a World Series berth.
That aim is now inside attain after Toronto booked its place in the best-of-seven World Series towards the Los Angeles Dodgers, with Game 1 set for Friday in Toronto.
“It means a lot,” Guerrero Jr. informed NCS Sports’ Andy Scholes on media day.
“I used to be not even born when when (the Blue Jays) had been in the World Series, you recognize, however to me, it’s like carry bringing again and making an attempt to win all of it is one thing I all the time dream with.
“I know everybody here is gonna be 100% to trying to win it all.”
Blue Jays followers throughout Canada will maintain their religion in Guerrero Jr. when he takes to the discipline, and that’s one thing the Dominican-Canadian feels when he’s on the market.
“They are the best fans ever,” he mentioned talking to reporters on Thursday.
“They always bring the energy. They are always there for us. It doesn’t matter if we’re losing by a lot, they cheer for you and that’s for me why they’re the best ever.”