Jays’ Guerrero Jr. offers solid pedigree

DUNEDIN, FLA. Vladimir Guerrero Jr., a highly regarded outfield prospect of the Toronto Blue Jays, is getting some major love from the respected baseball statistics and analysis site FanGraphs.

In a recent study by Chris Mitchell using the Katoh projection system on baseball’s most promising rookie-eligible players, the 17-year-old Guerrero was ranked No. 2 in Mitchell’s top-100 list, a ranking that takes into account players’ performance, age, height and ranking on traditional prospect lists.

Guerrero was also ranked third on a second stats-only Katoh list. And since that list doesn’t downgrade prospects who lack scouting pedigree, it’s good for identifying statistical standouts who have gone unnoticed.

Last year, the Montreal-born Guerrero hit .271 in 62 games in Rookie ball in Bluefield with eight home runs. The Jays signed the young Dominican for US$3.9 million in 2015 when he was ranked No. 4 on mlb.com’s top 30 international prospects list. The son of nine-time all-star and 2004 AL MVP Vladimir, a longtime Montreal Expo, Vladimir Jr. will most likely play at low-A Lansing.

“We’re more excited about Vladdy every day that passes, not just because of our subjective evaluation of his ability, but because of his dedication and true love for the game,” Jays general manager Ross Atkins said on Thursday.

“His talent and character translated into exceptional performance at the plate, on the bases and in the field as an extremely young player at a relatively advanced level last year.” Notes: Jays manager John Gibbons is batty for Joey Bats this spring.

“Tell you what, I’ve never seen him look so good,” Gibbons said of his right-fielder, Jose Bautista. “He’s in great shape, he looks stronger, he’s in a good frame of mind.”

Bautista’s been eating up pitching in Grapefruit League play as he gets ready to represent the Dominican Republic in the World Baseball Classic. In four games, the 36-year-old has five hits in 10 atbats with two walks and four RBI.

On Thursday against Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Ben Lively at Florida Auto Exchange Stadium in Dunedin, Bautista smacked a line-drive three-run home run to left-centre.

“Any ball that goes out of the yard, you gotta feel good about,” Bautista said.