VLAD’S GLAD TO BE ONE OF THE GUYS Rob Longley.
Blue Jays phenom finding he’s an easy fit with the big-leaguers, writes
DUNEDIN, FLA. Vlad Guerrero Jr. was at it again Monday afternoon at the Blue Jays’ minor-league complex, where the guts of early spring training takes place for the club.
Swatting line-drive home runs. Listening to veterans fight to avoid hitting after him during batting practice to avoid the shame. And, most importantly, just trying to fit in.
Showing maturity beyond his 19 years, the top prospect in baseball must know he can wow just about anyone who sees him in the flesh by swinging his baseball bat. He did it again during Monday’s first full workout, putting a real-time stamp on the advance hype.
And to illustrate that maturity, Guerrero said the most important task facing him between now and the end of March, when he joins his triple-A teammates in Buffalo, is to win over the bigleaguers he’s expected to join soon after.
“I’m working hard on getting trust from everyone,” Guerrero said through a translator during his first public comments at training camp. “I’m working hard on getting their trust as if I’m already a major-league player. It’s about building relationships and getting to trust each other.”
As for the lunacy of having to wait until mid-April at the earliest to cement that trust, Guerrero has a well-practised sound byte to swat away any whiff of ill will about delaying the inevitable.
“I’m focused on what I can control,” Guerrero said. “That’s their decision. My only job is to come here, work hard and get better and be ready (when the call comes). I know that I need to focus on controlling what I can control and then working hard every day making the best out of it and trying to get better every day.”
Whether it’s players he has been teammates with in the minors or veteran majorleaguers, so far Guerrero has had little trouble developing respect with his teammates.
In the clubhouse, his locker is located in a vibrant Latin quarter with veteran Kendrys Morales as well as Lourdes Gurriel Jr. and off-season free-agent signing Freddy Galvis.
There’s nothing “big shot” about the way Guerrero carries himself, which obviously plays well. And he certainly doesn’t look or act like a dude who’s still a few weeks away from his 20th birthday.
“I can’t relate to being 19 years old and being that even-keeled and calm and cool like that kid is,” said first-year Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo. “I’m impressed how he is. That’s the mark of a star. He’s going to be a star some day, as we all know. It’s amazing he could be that comfortable for being 19 years old.”
Familiar as he is with the Guerrero bloodlines, Montoyo said the only young player he has seen with such a magical mix of personality and pop was the kid’s father, Vlad Sr.
“He reminds me of his dad. That’s who he is,” said Montoyo.
On Monday, Vlad Jr. was just a more-than-ready-for-the-bigleagues star going about his business. He ran the bases, worked on his defence at third and did his time in the batting cage. He spent time yukking it up with fellow prospects Cavan Biggio and Bo Bichette, his teammates and pals with double-A New Hampshire last summer.
“That’s just Vladdy being Vladdy,” said Bichette. “He fits in wherever he goes.”
It doesn’t hurt that there’s plenty of support in the Jays’ clubhouse, from last year’s New Hampshire manager John Schneider to Buffalo manager Bobby Meachem to Montoyo, who recently visited with Vlad Jr. and Sr. in the Dominican.
But chief among the circle of support might be Morales, the aging designated hitter, who was a teammate with Vlad Sr. for several years and has remained close.
Vlad Jr. acknowledged how much he looks up to Morales because of that connection.
“Kendrys is almost like my dad in the sense that he grew up next to him,” Guerrero said. “I’m proud to be next to him. I really feel there is a strong relationship there.”
A good fit already, it would seem.
That’s the mark of a star. He’s going to be a star some day, as we all know. It’s amazing he could be that comfortable for being 19 years old.