SEATTLE – Vladimir Guerrero Jr. learned back in 2019 that the best show doesn’t always win the Home Run Derby, his absurd record total of 91 a hollow consolation after Pete Alonso went one better than him in the final to take the crown.
So when Julio Rodriguez went off in the first round Monday, hitting 41 homers to beat Alonso, improve by one on Guerrero’s previous mark for the single-round record and electrify the hometown T-Mobile crowd of 46,952, the Toronto Blue Jays slugger knew it meant nothing for their semifinal clash.
Calmly, Guerrero watched a largely spent Rodriguez swing his way to 20 homers (“It feels like your mind is there, but your body is not,” said the Seattle Mariners star), then stepped up and methodically put up a 21 to advance.
Guerrero then added 25 more homers in the final, watching Randy Arozarena’s late charge peter out at 23, to claim the derby crown.
At 72 homers travelling a combined 29,390 feet, it was still impressive, even if it wasn’t quite the same shock-and-awe display he put on in Cleveland, or better than Arozarena’s 82 on the night. But like Justin Morneau beating out Josh Hamilton after the latter’s epic display in 2008, Guerrero managed his energy smartly to become the first Blue Jays player to win the event and join his Hall-of-Fame dad, the 2007 winner, in becoming the only father-son duo to claim titles.
“Well, in 2019 I was younger so, I mean, I swung harder, I didn't get tired that often,” Guerrero, speaking through interpreter Hector Lebron, said of the difference between his two derby performances. “I'm older now, so I couldn't swing as hard as I wanted and I got tired. Real quick, too.”
Guerrero still had more than enough in the tank to easily dispatch Los Angeles Dodgers star Mookie Betts 26-11 in the first round before crushing the home fans and outlasting Arozarena.
Once again hitting off John Schneider, a Blue Jays coach then and manager now, Guerrero benefitted from earning himself an extra 30 seconds of bonus time in each round by hitting multiple homers 440 feet or further. He averaged 408 feet and topped out at 456.
And while others had better single rounds – Arozarena eliminated Luis Robert Jr. in the semifinals with 35-22 win, while Robert nudged Adley Rutschman 28-27 in a first-round thriller – Guerrero did enough each time.
“He was steady in all three rounds and the minute bonus time obviously helps, so when you hit it as far as he does, time is of the essence,” said Schneider. “The first time he was just really excited to do it. This time he didn't even practise for it. I think I put it there just enough.”
Supporting him throughout were Blue Jays teammates and fellow all-stars Bo Bichette, Jordan Romano and Whit Merrifield, posing for pictures with him on the field after the win just the way Bichette, Teoscar Hernandez and Marcus Semien did when Guerrero won MVP honours at the 2021 All-Star Game in Denver.
In recent days, Bichette said, it became apparent just how much Guerrero wanted to win it and watching him fulfil the goal “was awesome.”
Yet, “I don't think he ever found a rhythm – he's just that good. He won it without getting hot,” added Bichette. “That's all you need to know about Vladdy.”
Two other Blue Jays have reached the derby final and lost, Jose Bautista falling to Prince Fielder in 2012 and Alex Rios falling to the elder Guerrero back in 2007. Junior was on the field with his dad in San Francisco but “to be honest with you I don't remember much, I guess I was too young,” he said.
Still, in the leadup to the derby, Guerrero said he was participating at the urging of his family – he skipped out last year to prevent a flare-up of the left wrist soreness he experienced earlier that season – and matching his dad “feels great.”
“I feel very happy, very proud that my father and I, we both won the derby,” he added.
As for any potential worries about lingering effects from the event to his swing, Guerrero shook those off.
“For me it’s batting practice,” he said in the lead-up. “During the season, sometimes in BP I decide I want to hit all the balls out. It really isn't different. The only thing that I can say is that I get tired (in the derby) but other than that, the mechanics, everything else stays the same.”
Only this time, he ended up with a title to show for it.
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