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Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will participate in 2023 Home Run Derby
The Toronto Blue Jays star will have a chance to repeat his history-making performance from 2019.
Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. is returning to the Home Run Derby after not participating in the event in 2021 or 2022, the team confirmed on Thursday.
Although the 24-year-old's power production has dipped below his lofty standards in 2023, his credentials are beyond reproach. Not only is he a player who once tied the MLB lead with 48 round-trippers, he's also made a mark on this event before.
In his only previous Home Run Derby appearance in 2019, Guerrero set a record by sending 91 balls over the fence. Despite the fact he's competed in the event just once, Vladdy is tied with Todd Frazier for the fifth-most total homers in Derby history.
Guerrero, who says he is returning to the event due to requests from his family, plans to keep things simple this time around.
“No plan at all. I’m just going to go hit homers,” Guerrero said, per MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. “I’ll just enjoy it and hit homers.”
As a right-handed hitter, Guerrero's task at T-Mobile Park in Seattle won't be easy. According to Statcast, the ballpark has been the seventh-least hospitable venue to right-handed home runs in 2023.
That said, it's tough to doubt the former MVP runner-up based on his electric performance in 2019. In the four years since that night, he's only become a better power hitter and even in the midst of a down season, he is one of MLB's best pure ball strikers.
For now, it's unclear exactly who will fill out the Home Run Derby field, but we do know Guerrero will be joined by Mariners outfielder Julio Rodríguez, who will be mashing at his home park.
Like Guerrero, Rodríguez is in the midst of season that doesn't match his previous work, but his raw power is elite. His 13 home runs and .172 ISO are slightly better than Guerrero's marks (11 and .168) in 2023.
No matter how the field fills out, Guerrero will be one of the favorites on July 10. If he was able to set records as a rookie, it stands to reason that an older, wiser, Vladdy is in for a noteworthy showing in Seattle.
