Blue Jays: Vladimir Guerrero Jr. steals the show at training camp

Baseball’s top prospect showed up to Blue Jays training camp a day early and stole the show.

Baseballs #1 prospect, Vladimir Guerrero Jr, showed up to Blue Jays training camp a day early and was all the baseball world could talk about yesterday.

From mashing baseballs in batting practice, to playing catch with fellow infielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr, to just walking onto the field, you can bet the video made it to Twitter.

Today’s focus wasn’t on mashing baseballs out of the park for the highly anticipated prospect though. According to Blue Jays hitting coach Guillermo Martinez:

"“his line drives go over the fence.” Martinez added that Guerrero isn’t trying to “elevate. He’s not trying to hit the school (beyond the outfield fence) on purpose. He literally takes every swing thinking about everything he’s trying to do.”"

Blue Jays new manager Charlie Montoyo didn’t even get to see his club’s top prospect today because he was at the Bobby Mattick Training Centre watching the team’s pitchers. “I didn’t even get to see him. I guess he looked pretty good,” said Montoyo.

The first full squad workout isn’t until Monday and that is when Vlad Jr will address the media.

Earlier in the week, GM Ross Atkins said there is “no firm timeline” on when Guerrero Jr will make his major league debut. The situation has become a hot topic around the league, as Guerrero is just the latest example of a player whose promotion is being delayed in order to manipulate service time. The Blue Jays can say that he needs to “round things out” or however they want to put it, but I think we all understand what the real situation is. Whether you like it not, it’s not against the current rules, and it could become an issue in the next CBA discussions.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bt4tWcjBZqO/

Slashing .381/.437/.636 across 4 minor league levels last year, Vladdy Jr would surely be on the team’s opening day roster if not for the MLB’s service time rules.

Although it’s unlikely we see Guerrero Jr with the big league club until at least 15 days until the season, he’s surely all Blue Jays fans will be talking about until the season starts. Watching the 6’1, 200lb phenom crush baseballs in spring training batting practice will have to do for now.