Jays’ future looks good in spring training
Yes, it was just one game, a spring training tilt at that. Throw all the disclaimers you want at the small-stakes debut of two of the hottest Blue Jays prospects in years, but the 7,015 at Ed Smith Stadium on a chilly Thursday may not soon forget the Blue Jays’ launch of Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette.
All Guerrero did was go 4-for5 in the Jays’ 9-3 win over Baltimore, muscling singles to left, centre and right and looking every bit the big-league stud he’s projected to be. Bichette, meanwhile, held his own by going 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs.
“We know they’re good and the baseball world knows they’re good and they go out there and produce on their first day. They’ve got to feel really good,” said Jays manager John Gibbons. “They both handled themselves like champs. For our fans and our organization, it’s exciting.”
Guerrero handled the DH role with the poise and power expected of him. The 18-year-old (he turns 19 next week) is the top-ranked third baseman on MLB Pipeline’s list of prospects and No. 3 overall. But four hits and making it look easy by not chasing after sucker pitches and junk outside of the strike zone?
“He’s incredible,” said Bichette, who has come up through the Jays system with Guerrero. “He’s one of those guys who can wake up out of bed and hit. What he did today definitely wasn’t very surprising, put it that way.”
Though normally a cool customer, the son of hall of famer Vlad Sr. was clearly excited about the chance to put on a show, even with some jitters.
“I was nervous when I got out there, but I was just trying to make contact and it worked out pretty well,” Guerrero said through interpreter Josue Peley.
As for Bichette, his dad — exmajor-leaguer Dante — was in the stands with his wife Mariana to capture their son’s big moment. “It was just about having a fun day,” said Bichette, 20, who played second.