Vlad Jr. soaks it in where dad played
MONTREAL — Few fans at Olympic Stadium were as concerned that the Toronto Blue Jays lost a pre-season game as they were thrilled to have a chance to cheer for Vladimir Guerrero Jr.
The son of the former Montreal Expos great was given a standing ovation when he entered the Blue Jays’ 5-3 pre-season loss to the St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh inning on Monday night.
The 19-year-old Vlad Jr., went 0-for-2 at the plate, although a roar went up when he hit a ball hard to left in the ninth that was caught.
“It was very nice of them,” Guererro Jr., said of the ovation. “I was just happy. I said: ‘OK I’m back home now.’ ”
What really made his day was getting to wear his father’s number 27. He said he was going through his equipment bag before the game when he saw it.
“First of all I feel very proud that they did that for me,” he said through an interpreter. “It motivates me to have my dad’s number on my back and wear his number.”
Guerrero’s father was a fearsome power hitter and a spectacular right-fielder for the Expos, leaving two years before the club moved to Washington, D.C. He is headed to the baseball Hall of Fame this summer.
Vlad Jr., spent the first few years of his life in Montreal, but is now one of the top prospects in the Blue Jays organization. He was joined on the field by two other prospects with famous baseball dads — Dante Bichette’s son, Bo, and Craig Biggio’s son, Cavan.
“It’s fun for me and the rest of the organization,” said Blue Jays manager John Gibbons. “And they’re all on the right path to make the big leagues and make their own legacy.”
A crowd of 25,335 turned out at Olympic Stadium for the first of a two-game set to close out the preseason, with the second meeting set for tonight.