Blue Jays prospects have that ‘wow’ factor
Guerrero Jr. and Bichette have fans drooling, writes Rob Longley.
BRADENTON, FLA. Justin Smoak wanted to see what the fuss was about, so every time Vlad Guerrero Jr. or Bo Bichette went to the batter’s box, the Blue Jays first baseman stood on the clubhouse steps.
Curtis Granderson spent some time before Thursday’s game talking to Bichette, while Kendrys Morales did the same with Guerrero.
And at the end of another impressive night by two of the Jays’ top prospects, everyone was treating it like a late spring training bonus.
“They’re awesome,” Bichette said of the veterans. “They’re really good to talk baseball with and they all do a good job of trying to make us feel welcome.”
Wherever these two go, fans, players and baseball people stop to observe. And those who made their way south for a rare spring game under the lights Thursday saw another impressive show.
In his first at-bat, Guerrero Jr. roped a line-drive double to centre field. Two at-bats later, the big man beat out a single to give him six hits in his first eight at-bats against big-league pitching.
Just to remind everyone he was part of the prospect show, Bichette followed Guerrero’s second hit with a two-run, opposite field homer.
“They’ve got a ton of talent,” Jays manager John Gibbons said. “They just keep producing. It’s fun to watch, even for the veteran guys on this team. Both of them are dripping with confidence. It energizes everyone.”
Both will accompany the team to Montreal for exhibition games on Monday and Tuesday. Can you imagine the reaction for the son of former Expos star and hall of famer Vlad Sr. when Guerrero is introduced at the Big O?
Bichette and Guerrero Jr. both seemed thrilled by the cameo allowed this spring. They played in two “regular” games against major-league competition and a third versus the Canadian national junior team. Both will report to double-A New Hampshire, where they will begin the season with the Fisher Cats.
“What I’m going to take the most from all of this is how the guys are really nice and how amazing everybody is,” Guerrero Jr. said through translator Josue Peley. “It’s something I’m going to take down to the minor leagues and try to use with the guys down there, too.”
Bichette figures the taste of the bigs is just another step in their development.
“How to control the emotion,” Bichette said when asked what he will take from his spring cameo. “I know this is on a way lesser scale than the big leagues, but for us we’re playing with no fans, so to come here is a little bit of a challenge learning how to control that and figure out how to perform with it.”
Jays general manager Ross Atkins knows the questions of when “Bo and Vladdy” make their regular-season bigleague debuts won’t stop until it happens.
Atkins wouldn’t rule it out happening this season.
“I suppose there’s not one silver bullet answer, but the easiest way to think about it is one, the opportunity and when there is a need, and secondarily, if there is performance that we can’t deny,” Atkins said Friday.
“Performance will be what dictates when it will happen.”