Spending the weekend in Cooperstown, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. received a reminder of how much dedication it took his father to earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
It was a timely lesson for Guerrero now that minor league baseball's acclaimed top prospect has entered the next phase of his career.
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Spending the weekend in Cooperstown, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. received a reminder of how much dedication it took his father to earn induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame.
Here is Buffalo, where the 19-year-old made his Triple-A debut with the Blue Jays' top affiliate Tuesday night. And he did so wearing No. 27, the same number his father, Vladimir Guerrero, had during a 16-year major league career capped by his induction on Sunday.
He made two notable defensive plays at third base in the second inning.
The only thing to slow Guerrero's trajectory since signing a $3.9 million contract with Toronto when he was 16 was a strained left knee ligament that forced him to miss a little over a month with Double-A New Hampshire.
Gibbons had no timetable on how long Guerrero will spend in Buffalo.
There's also a buzz in Buffalo, where the Bisons are counting on Guerrero providing a boost in production and promotion.
Dan Lillis made the two-hour drive from Toronto and plans to attend the final four games of Buffalo's homestand.
"My job is to help him get better and better every day here," said Meacham, who's only seen Guerrero play once. "For me, it's just to see him go out there and perform and see if he's like everybody says he is and as good as everybody says he is as a hitter and help him get better."
"I feel really happy that my dad achieved that, that he got there because it showed how much work he did to get there," Guerrero said through a translator, Toronto Blue Jays mental performance coach Rafael Dubois. "And right now, it's just keep working, keep working. And I'm happy that I'm here now."
Buffalo Bisons third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. dives for the ball but can't make the stop on a single by Lehigh Valley IronPigs' Aaron Altherr during first inning of a Triple-A baseball game in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. (Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press via AP)
Here is Buffalo, where the 19-year-old made his Triple-A debut with the Blue Jays' top affiliate Tuesday night. And he did so wearing No. 27, the same number his father, Vladimir Guerrero, had during a 16-year major league career capped by his induction on Sunday.
Hitting third, Guerrero drove in a run with a sacrifice fly to left-center with the bases loaded in the sixth inning. The ball was headed for the gap before left fielder Adron Chambers made a diving catch.
Guerrero also walked each of his first three times up, grounded out to second and scored twice in Buffalo's 11-8 loss.
Buffalo Bisons third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) slides safely into third base pass Lehigh Valley IronPigs' Mitch Walding (10) during first inning triple-A baseball action in Buffalo on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Guerrero Jr. is making his triple-A debut after dominating double-A over 61 games. (Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press via AP)
He made two notable defensive plays at third base in the second inning.
Guerrero snagged a hard one-hopper while falling backward, and calmly threw out Joey Meneses. Aaron Altherr, the next batter, hit a high bouncer up the third baseline, which Guerrero backhanded, and he threw a one-hopper to just beat the runner.
"I don't feel any pressure," Guerrero Jr. said before the game. "I just try to get better every day."
Buffalo Bisons' Vladimir Guerrero Jr. pops out during the sixth inning of the team's Triple-A baseball game against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. (Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press via AP)
The only thing to slow Guerrero's trajectory since signing a $3.9 million contract with Toronto when he was 16 was a strained left knee ligament that forced him to miss a little over a month with Double-A New Hampshire.
He returned July 19, went 10 for 29 with three home runs and five RBIs in seven games and was promoted. Overall with New Hampshire this season, he has a .402 batting average, with 14 home runs and 60 RBIs in 61 games.
"You could tell right away there's a little something different about him," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said before Toronto's game at Oakland. "He's got a nice big smile. It's easier to smile when you're that good naturally. He really enjoys what he's doing."
Buffalo Bisons third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. throws to first base to put out Lehigh Valley IronPigs' Aaron Altherr during the second inning of a Triple-A baseball game in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. (Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press via AP)
Gibbons had no timetable on how long Guerrero will spend in Buffalo.
"He'll play there for a while," he said. "They've got, what, one more month left in their season? After that, I couldn't tell you."
In Toronto, fans are already awaiting the youngster's arrival to spark an underperforming team that's suddenly decided to retool for the future. At one recent home game, someone posted a sign on a stadium deck that read: "We Want Vladdy."
Buffalo Bisons third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) signs autographs before the start of triple-A baseball action against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Buffalo on Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Guerrero Jr. is making his triple-A debut after dominating double-A over 61 games. (Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press via AP)
There's also a buzz in Buffalo, where the Bisons are counting on Guerrero providing a boost in production and promotion.
The announced attendance was 9,477, which nearly doubled the Bisons' average of 5,400 for Tuesday games this season — not including their annual Independence Day eve promotional night.
The Bisons broke tradition and opened the stadium gates three hours before game time to allow fans to watch batting practice. About 150 were on hand when Guerrero stepped to the plate.
Buffalo Bisons third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. enters the field before a minor league baseball against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Guerrero Jr., the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, is making his triple-A debut with the Toronto Blue Jays' top affiliate on Tuesday. (AP PhotoJeffrey T. Barnes)
Dan Lillis made the two-hour drive from Toronto and plans to attend the final four games of Buffalo's homestand.
"Most of us think the season's pretty much over and they'd like to see him as soon as possible coming up," said Lillis, who attends about 30 Blue Jays games a year. "I think he's the future."
Bisons manager and former major leaguer Bobby Meacham said the organization is taking a cautious approach.
Buffalo Bisons third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. looks on before a minor league baseball against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Guerrero Jr., the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, is making his triple-A debut with the Toronto Blue Jays' top affiliate on Tuesday. (AP PhotoJeffrey T. Barnes)
"My job is to help him get better and better every day here," said Meacham, who's only seen Guerrero play once. "For me, it's just to see him go out there and perform and see if he's like everybody says he is and as good as everybody says he is as a hitter and help him get better."
Guerrero isn't looking beyond Buffalo.
"I can't think in the future," he said. "I think in the moment. And I just need to focus on doing my job."
Buffalo Bisons third baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. warms up during batting practice before a minor league baseball against the Lehigh Valley IronPigs in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, July 31, 2018. Guerrero Jr., the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, is making his triple-A debut with the Toronto Blue Jays' top affiliate on Tuesday. (Nathan DenetteThe Canadian Press via AP)
Guerrero doesn't expect his father to see him play in Buffalo because of various commitments with the Los Angeles Angels.
His grandmother, Altagracia Alvino, will continue living with Guerrero as she did in New Hampshire.
He flashed a toothy smile when asked about his grandmother, who cooks for him and does his laundry — "She doesn't allow me to do it," he said.
"If I move to China, she comes with me to China," Guerrero said. "I always get advice from her. She's there to support me."
AP freelance writer Michael Wagaman, in Oakland, California, contributed to this report.
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