Canadians fans had visions of Vlad dancing in their heads
John Schneider openly chuckled when he was told there were Vancouver Canadians fans hoping last winter that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. would spend some time based out of Nat Bailey Stadium this season.
You can’t blame Schneider. The premise does seem a little funny to think about now.
Having turned age 18 in March, the son of Montreal Expos great Vladimir Guerrero Sr. fits in agewise with the C’s and their shortseason single-A Northwest League cohorts. He’s proven to be skilled beyond his years, though.
This Guerrero, a third baseman, started his second season in the Toronto Blue Jays system one level up from Vancouver with the single-A Lansing Lugnuts. He’s since been promoted to the advanced single-A Dunedin Blue Jays, where he plays for former C’s manager Schneider.
Going into Monday, he had hit .322 with 11 homers and 67 RBIs between the two clubs in 107 games.
Shortstop Bo Bichette, 19, has a similar story, starting the year with Lansing before getting the call to Dunedin. The son of former bigleague outfielder Dante Bichette had played 100 games at the two levels going into Monday and had hit .372, with 12 homers and 67 RBIs.
As of Monday morning, Bichette hadn’t played since Aug. 13 due to a sprained ankle, but Schneider said he hoped he’d be back this week sometime.
Vancouver fans can lament what they’ve missed, but you get the feeling we’re on the fast track to getting a steady dose of the pair on TV with the big club in Toronto.
“They forced our hands with the way things went at the end of last year and then through instructional league,” Schneider said. “And they obviously haven’t disappointed this season.
“They’re special dudes. For them to be 18, 19 years of age in the Florida State League and competing and performing the way they are is pretty amazing.”
Of all his statistics, Guerrero’s most impressive may be that he had 68 walks and 57 strikeouts going into Monday. That suggests he has an advanced knowledge of the strike zone, particularly for a young player with power.
Keep in mind the average age of hitters in the Florida State League is 22 years, eight months, according to baseball-reference.com.
The website also lists Vancouver’s Northwest League as home to hitters 20 years, seven months of age. Guerrero, a 6-foot-1, 200-pound, right-handed hitter, would be the youngest player on the C’s.
Baseball America ranked Guerrero as the second-best prospect in the game in their July 7 top100 update behind only Chicago White Sox second baseman Yoan Moncada. Guerrero had been No. 16 in their May 11 poll.
Bichette was up to No. 44 from No. 93.