Toronto Blue Jays' Vlad Guerrero Jr. Will Participate in Home Run Derby
Toronto Blue Jays star Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will participate in the home run derby during All-Star Week.
He's the second confirmed participant, after Julio Rodriguez of the Seattle Mariners. The Derby was won by Juan Soto last year and will take place on July 10.
One of the most feared hitters in the league, Guerrero is hitting .280 this season with a .349 on-base percentage. He's got 11 homers and 49 RBI. For his career, he's got 115 homers and 359 RBI. He made his debut in 2019.
Still just 24 years old, he's the centerpiece of the Blue Jays lineup, which is one of the best in baseball. He's flanked by Bo Bichette and George Springer in the lineup and also has protection in the form of Brandon Belt, Alejandro Kirk, Whit Merrifield and others.
Guerrero is already a two-time All-Star, an All-Star Game MVP, a Silver Slugger award winner and a Gold Glove winner. Winning the home run derby would be another title to add to his resume. He has participated before and hit a record 40 homers in the 2019 second round. Pete Alonso of the Mets won that year, though.
The Blue Jays enter play on Thursday at 44-37 on the season. They are currently 10.0 games back of the first-place Rays in the American League East but currently own the last wild card spot. They lead the Astros and Angels by 0.5 games each.
Toronto made the playoffs in 2022 but was swept by the Mariners in the wild card round.
They'll take on the San Francisco Giants on Thursday night at 7:07 p.m. and then will take on the Boston Red Sox over the weekend.
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