Jays’ top prospect, Guerrero Jr., debuts for triple-A Buffalo
BUFFALO, N.Y. (CP) — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., the top prospect in baseball, had been proving for a while that he’s ready for Buffalo.
After dominating double-A over 61 games, the star third baseman made his triple-A debut Tuesday, officially going 0-for-1 with a trio of walks and a sacrifice fly in the Buffalo Bisons’ 11-8 loss to the Lehigh Valley IronPigs.
Guerrero, the son of the Hall of Famer and former Montreal Expos great with the same name, batted third in manager Bobby Meacham’s lineup, but didn’t get many pitches to hit early on.
“I went to home plate to swing and they were not throwing anything to swing at,” Guerrero said through a translator. “When I go to home plate, I just stand there waiting for my pitch and if they don’t throw my pitch, I’m not going to swing at it.”
Guerrero walked in his first three at-bats, coming around to score twice, and showed his defensive side with a couple of neat snags at third base.
He received a loud ovation from the crowd of 9,477 each time he stepped to the plate, and his second walk — on four straight pitches from Ranger Suarez — sparked a chorus of boos toward the IronPigs’ starter.
Guerrero picked up his first triple-A RBI with a sac fly in the sixth and grounded out in his last at bat in the eighth.
“I don’t feel any pressure,” Guerrero told a throng of media members. “I just try to get better every day.”
Former Jay, Happ, sidelined with hand, foot and mouth disease
NEW YORK (AP) — Newly acquired Yankees left-hander J.A. Happ has been diagnosed with hand, foot and mouth disease.
The Yankees aren’t certain how Happ caught it.
The 35-year-old was traded from Toronto to the Yankees last week for infielder Brandon Drury and outfielder Billy McKinney. Happ won his New York debut on Sunday, pitching six strong innings to defeat Kansas City. He was slated to pitch this Saturday against the AL East-leading Red Sox in Boston, and there is still a chance that Happ could recover in time.