Transformation of Guerrero Jr. a hit

Of course Charlie Montoyo had seen the pictures and, like anyone associated with the Blue Jays, was impressed and encouraged.

The Toronto manager had also heard similar talk from Vlad Guerrero Jr. in the past, however — that the superstar in waiting was working hard and was committed to getting lighter and fitter to help reach those sky-high expectations. So if there was a caution to Montoyo's optimism from the startling images of a new-look Vlad, who could blame him?

Whatever doubts that might have existed were quickly vaporized when Montoyo, Guerrero and Jays general manager Ross Atkins met in Florida last month, however. The results — which are widely visible on Guerrero's colourful and extensive Instagram account — are certainly eye-popping. But it was the resolve that the 21-year-old appeared to be carrying that perhaps has resonated strongest with Jays officials.

“He's really committed,” Montoyo said over the phone from his off-season home in Tucson, Ariz. “He wants to get down to wherever he wants to get down to and he's working really hard. You can see it in his eyes when you are talking to him and it's like ‘trust me, I'm going to get there.' And he's doing it.

“I'm proud of him and how hard he's working. He really looks good.”

Multiple people we spoke with who have seen Guerrero in the (reduced) flesh this off season, have raved at his makeover. And all are excited to see how it affects his performance going forward.

“He looks good with dropping the weight but maintaining his strength,” Jays catcher Danny Jansen told Postmedia News. “He looks quicker and more mobile which is going to make all aspects of his game stronger.”

Often quietly, the physical condition of Guerrero has been a concern for the Jays front office at various checkpoints of his pro career. It first started affecting the highly-touted rookie's play late in the 2019 season as he hit a wall and struggled in the final month, seemingly running out of gas.

With gentle prodding from management, Guerrero recognized and acknowledged a need to get fitter, if for no other reason to withstand the enhanced demands of the lengthy MLB season. He seemingly took the challenge to heart into the fall and winter of 2019, setting out to improve his stamina and physique. There was some progress as he reported to Dunedin this past February in noticeably better, if not spectacular, shape.

And then the pandemic shutdown hit in March and over the ensuing three-plus months, Guerrero regressed dramatically. When the team gathered in Toronto in July for the second stab at training camp, he had ballooned to 280 pounds.

To their credit and no doubt to send a message, the Jays reacted swiftly, shifting Guerrero across the diamond from third base to first where a lack of mobility and athleticism wouldn't be so easily exposed. The early results were predictable and ultimately revealing to Guerrero.

He struggled (by his standards) at the plate and faltered defensively at times which in fairness was at least in part due to adjusting to the different instincts required to play a new and unfamiliar position.

“Everything about his game, it hurt him, gaining that much weight,” Montoyo said.