Vladimir Guerrero Jr. represents the future of the Toronto Blue Jays baseball club, but it’s hard to not think of the legacy his father, Vladimir Guerrero Sr., created during his tenue with the Montreal Expos when looking at the 18-year-old super prospect.
The son of Vlad, who was named the prospect of the year by ESPN’s prospect guru Keith Law, is a spitting image of his father, emulating the dreadlocks, batting stance, and even tried the no batting gloves look.
Vlad Sr. went on to play 16 seasons in the MLB split between the Expos, Angels, Rangers and Orioles. Over his tenure, “Mad Vlad” smashed 449 home runs, 1496 RBI and produced a slash line of .318/.379/.553. The eight-time Silver Slugger was named AL MVP in the 2004 season and was a nine-time all-star.
Those numbers are certainly impressive, but in the eyes of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA), Guerrero Sr.’s numbers weren’t quite good enough to be a first ballot Hall of Famer.
Guerrero Sr. needed only 15 more votes to be elected into the Hall's 2017 class, tallying just 71.7 percent. To be elected, eligible players must hit the 75 percent bench mark.
The class of 2018 will be announced early in the new year on January 23rd, and Vlad Jr is lobbying for his dad to be elected when the BBWAA tally up their votes. In an interview with the Player’s Tribune, junior expressed his desire to see his father have his name called in Cooperstown.
“I want to see him make it in because he deserves it — he put up the numbers, and he played the game the right way. But I also want to see him get in because I know it would make him so happy. That he’d really appreciate the honor, and be so thankful to have been recognized as one of the game’s all-time greats.”
Guerrero has a good shot at getting in in 2018, and will join the likes Chipper Jones, Jim Thome, Omar Vizquel, Andruw Jones and Scott Rolen as first-timers that are eligible.
If Vlad Jr. can become half the player his father, then that’s a step in the right direction for Blue Jays fans. Considering many scouts and analysts think Vlad Jr. has more talent than his father, don’t be surprised if Vlad Jr. one day shatters the statistics his dad put up.
(h/t Player’s Tribune)