DUNEDIN, Fla. — The first time Vladimir Guerrero Jr. came to the plate Sunday, he hit an opposite-field home run deep to right at TD Ballpark. Hardly surprising at this point — he’s the reigning American League home run champion, after all — but a welcome development nonetheless.
“It’s always a good sign when he goes deep this way,” manager Charlie Montoyo said from the right field grass after the Toronto Blue Jays lost to the Philadelphia Phillies 10-5. “Anything he does, it doesn’t surprise me.”
Perhaps more interesting is what happened the second time Guerrero Jr. came to the plate. Facing Phillies right-hander Nick Nelson in the bottom of the fourth inning, the 23-year-old swung through two change-ups to fall behind in the count 0-2.
In years past, Guerrero Jr. might have lost some of his composure at this point. Remember: in 2019, the Blue Jays sent him to the minor leagues in part because they wanted him to improve his preparation and routines. The next year he apologized to his teammates after showing up to summer camp out of shape.
As always, context is important here. When Guerrero Jr. debuted at the MLB level, he was still younger than most college draft prospects. The lessons most players learn on backfields, he had to learn on national TV. But regardless, he wasn’t a finished product.
On Sunday, a different version of Guerrero Jr. stood in against Nelson. After falling behind 0-2, he fouled off four straight pitches. The next two offerings were balls, and Guerrero Jr. took them both to even the count. Finally, on the ninth pitch of the at-bat, he took a called third strike. But even if the result was disappointing, the way he got there is significant.
“It’s concentration,” Guerrero Jr. said in an interview conducted via interpreter Hector Lebron. “I’m taking these at-bats now like a regular season at-bat. My concentration in that at-bat was big.”
In spring training, the numbers don’t matter, especially for an established player. At the same time, there’s a reason Guerrero Jr. showed some frustration after that strike three call: to succeed later, he has to stay locked in now.
“For me, every at-bat counts,” Guerrero Jr. said. “Regardless of regular season, spring training. I take every at-bat to work on something: concentration, timing. They all count.”
From the first base dugout, Teoscar Hernandez observed the at-bat with interest. He’s seen Guerrero Jr. ascend from top prospect to MVP candidate in recent years, while also emerging as a two-time Silver Slugger winner himself. The way Hernandez saw it, his younger teammate may have been too hard on himself after striking out.
“Just take it easy,” Hernandez told Guerrero Jr. in the dugout soon afterward. “It’s a spring training game. I know you’re looking for your timing. I am too. I know you’re frustrated, just keep fighting to get your timing.”
With a little less than two weeks remaining before the regular season begins, both have ample time to refine their swings. Hernandez, who returned to the lineup after missing some time with wrist soreness, said he expects to play in most of the Blue Jays’ remaining spring games.
In theory, that should give him plenty of time to build on a 2021 season in which he hit 32 home runs, drove in 116 and posted an .870 OPS. Impressive production, yet within a Blue Jays lineup featuring the likes of Guerrero Jr., Bo Bichette and George Springer, Hernandez can sometimes be overlooked.
“He always is for some reason,” Montoyo said. “This guy’s a Silver Slugger. Ever since he came back from the minor leagues in 2019, he’s put up numbers … but I never forget about him.”
Meanwhile, Guerrero Jr. will be looking to build on a historic season. And while spring training games don’t count for anything, the approach on display Sunday suggests the changes Guerrero Jr. made last year are here to stay. Or maybe, there’s even more to come.
“He’s a good hitter,” Montoyo said. “And he’s only going to get better. I’m looking forward to seeing that movie this year.”
