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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. to participate in Home Run Derby

Nick Ashbourne
Writer
Toronto Blue Jays' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. grounds out against the Colorado Rockies in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, June 1, 2019, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. magic hasn’t been as common as the Blue Jays might have liked in his career’s opening act, but he’s about to have a chance to put on a show for his biggest audience yet.

On Sunday, the Blue Jays announced Vladdy has agreed to participate in the Home Run Derby at this year’s All-Star Game at Cleveland’s Progressive Field.

The 20-year-old rookie might not seem like the most obvious Derby candidate due to his .251/.320/.419 line and eight career home runs, but his raw power has been graded as a perfect 80 in the past. Vladdy has been known to launch a barrage of rockets in batting practice, and he could do the same in Cleveland.

Guerrero Jr. follows in the footsteps of his father, Vladimir Guerrero, who won the Home Run Derby back in 2007 when he was playing with the L.A. Angels of Anaheim.

If he’s able to replicate his father’s feat he’ll bring home $1 million dollars, a significant sum for a guy making the MLB minimum of $555,000 this season.

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